Singur, Manjeera projects dry up

Sangareddy: With the Singur and Manjeera reservoirs drying up, acute water crisis haunt the people in Sangareddy and other constituencies in Medak District.

Whenever water levels in Manjeera project decline, water is released from Singur. But this time, as Singur project itself has dried up, no water is being released into Manjeera. As a result, supply of drinking water to Sangareddy has been halted. In another 15 days, water supply to the twin cities would also be affected.

Mounds of sand and rocks, besides of remnants of villages that submerged when the project was build on Manjeera River in 1974 has become visible as there is little water in it. The full reservoir capacity is 30 tmcft. As much as 4 tmcft water is released to Nizamsagar project and 2 tmcft to Ghanapur. The rest is reserved to cater to needs of drinking water in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

There are no inflows into the river because of deficit rainfall. Apart from it, the Maharashtra government is diverting the water in the flood canal to Almatti project. It has led to Singur reverbed bone dry. Silt has accumulated up to 2 to 3 metre on the Manjeera riverbed.

The situation has come handy for suppliers of water to make hay while sun shines. They are fleecing the people by charging Rs 40 per 20 litre can of water.

“From morning to evening we are constantly in search for drinking water. We have not imagined in our wildest dreams.

Adding to woes of the people, the tanker owners have stopped providing potable water to some villages because of non-payment of dues. Dues to be paid to tanker owners amount to Rs 20 crore in Medak district, according to officials sources.