Akbar accuses govt of blinking at water woes

​Hyderabad: All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi accused the government of ignoring the needs of drinking water supply to old city areas where real Telanganites live.

Raising the issue during question hour, Owaisi said irregular and insufficient drinking water supply besides contamination of water due to leakage of pipe lines was posing severe health hazards in the city.

The replacement of damaged pipelines was being carried out with HUDCO assistance in the peripheral areas by Andhra contractors.

He also protested over the stopping of drinking water supply from Himayathsagar and Osmansagar reservoirs to the old city. He stressed on the need to take up phase-IV of Krishna water scheme.

Refuting the charges, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K Taraka Rama Rao said Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has made it clear that whoever was residing in the city were “Telangana Biddalu”. So, the government would not show any discrimination towards anyone. The remarks of the AIMIM leader are uncharitable, he added.

KTR said that the State government was committed to ensure sufficient and quality drinking water was supplied to the citizens at all times.

KTR also reminded the members that after TRS came to power, the city had witnessed major developments and improvement in power supply, water supply and law and order situation.

This was acknowledged by the people by electing a majority of the TRS members to the GHMC, he observed.

Regarding preventive steps being taken up to contain water contamination due to damaged and defective pipelines, the Minister said a study was undertaken during 2009-10 which identified 991 km length of pipelines that needed to be replaced at a cost of Rs 1,152 crore.

Out of this, 476 km length pipelines have been replaced between 2009 and 2014. He further explained that during 2013-14, further study was taken up which identified an additional 819 km length of old and defective pipe lines for replacement, totalling 1,134 km covering the entire GHMC area. About 178 km of pipe lines have been replaced in vulnerable stretches during 2013-14 to 2015-16.

The remaining length of pipeline is about 1,156 km. Of this, the most leak-prone pipes of AC, PVC, HDPE, and GI of about 691 km exist in the peripheral circles and are under replacement with HUDCO assistance. The remaining length of 465 km of pipe lines costing about Rs 502 crore is yet to be replaced. However, the critical and vulnerable stretches are regularly being replaced with available funds, he added.

The Minister also pointed out that Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) was being provided with regular budget allocations for replacement of old and defective pipe lines to prevent contamination of drinking water.

Wherever contamination of water supply was due to old or defective pipe lines, the supply is cut off for replacement and in the meantime drinking water is being supplied through tankers, he added.

BJP leader K Laxman pointed out that there was a big gap between demand and supply of drinking water in the city.

The water supply in varying times in different localities was also causing problems to people. He wanted a comprehensive plan for the complete replacement of old and damaged pipelines.