HMWSSB prepares sewerage expansion plan ahead of 27 ULBs’ merger into GHMC

HMWSSB is preparing to expand its sewerage network for 27 ULBs proposed to merge into GHMC. Estimated Rs 500–800 crore needed for infrastructure, with sewerage cess and free water supply up to 20 KL planned for residents post-merger.

Hyderabad: Following the proposal to merge 27 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) into the GHMC, a marathon exercise lies ahead for the HMWSSB to prepare a comprehensive action plan to spread its sewerage network.

The proposal is to have the ULBs – Pedda Amberpet, Jalpally, Shamshabad, Turkayamjal, Manikonda, Narsingi, Adibatla, Thukuguda, Medchal, Dammaiguda, Nagaram, Pocharam, Ghatkesar, Gundlapochampally, Thumkunta, Kompally, Dundigal, Bollaram, Tellapur, Ammenpur, Badangpet, Bandlaguda Jagir, Meerpet, Boduppal, Peerzadiguda, Jawaharnagar, and Nizampet, merged into the GHMC.

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At present, the water board is supplying over 20 million gallons of water per day to meet the demand of the 27 ULBs. “Now, the sewerage expansion will also be taken up to integrate the newly added municipalities into the existing sewerage infrastructure, and for this, we have to prepare a road map,” said a senior HMWSSB official.

Currently, the HMWSSB is handling over 9,000 km of the sewerage network within the city and the GHMC periphery circles.

Until 2021, the water board’s sewerage network was confined to the core city. After the then BRS government expanded it to the 12 GHMC peripheral circles from October 1, 2021, the HMWSSB was handling the entire sewerage system. It is now likely to add another 27 ULBs, which the State government recently proposed to merge into GHMC.

While the GHMC is tackling the manhole network related to stormwater drains, the HMWSSB is managing over 5 lakh manholes within the core city and the GHMC periphery, and resolving the complaints received through the HMWSSB’s own customer care: 155313.

The HMWSSB plans to work out the modalities, including the preparation of a detailed project report (DPR) and funding pattern for the 27 ULBs, once the State government gives its clearance to merge them into the GHMC. “Based on the MA&UD department’s instructions, we will invite tenders to lay new sewer trunks,” an official said.

According to an estimate, anywhere between Rs 500 to Rs 800 crore would be required for the revamp and new infrastructure works for the sewerage network in these 27 ULBs, which is presently managed by the Gram Panchayats concerned.

Once in place, sewerage cess would also be imposed along with water bills once the ULBs are merged and the sewerage system is developed. Officials say the water boards would have to deploy more men and machinery to handle the sewerage network, the sewerage cess, along the water bills would be imperative.

Free water supply:

Meanwhile, the HMWSSB also admitted that up to 20 KL of free water supply would also be extended to these 27 ULBs after the merger process is completed, on par with the core city.

The then BRS government launched this free water supply scheme in December 2020 and implemented it effectively for domestic consumers in the GHMC limits. It is mandatory that all the eligible consumers have to attend an Aadhaar authentication process to avail the free water supply scheme.