Falling Singur levels trigger emergency pumping plan

With water levels in Singur reservoir falling sharply, HMWSSB is preparing to begin emergency pumping operations. Officials say the move will ensure uninterrupted water supply to parts of Hyderabad and GHMC areas despite declining reservoir levels.

Hyderabad: As water levels dip sharply, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) is gearing up to commence emergency pumping operations from Singur.

HMWSSB officials said that with the water level in Singur dropping, installation of emergency pumping has become inevitable. In January this year, the water level in Singur was at 1707 ft, compared to its Full Tank Level (FTL) of 1717 ft. However, within four months, officials said the water level dropped to 1696 ft, indicating an 11 ft fall below the FTL.

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Singur is one of the lifeline drinking water sources for Hyderabad, after the twin reservoirs Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar. The water board is supposed to draw a total of 75 million gallons of water per day (MGD), but is currently drawing 69 MGD to meet the demand in certain areas of the city and GHMC periphery areas.

The water board has arranged 19 emergency pumps at the Singur shore area. Of these, 11 pumps will be operated, while the remaining eight pumps will be kept on standby, a senior HMWSSB official told ‘Telangana Today’. The emergency pumping operation could begin either at the end of this month or in the first week of May.

The water board official said there would be no shortage in water supply and added that in case of an emergency, pumping would begin to ensure supply of the same MGD that is currently being supplied from Singur.