Water crisis looms large in Telangana State

The Telangana govt on Wednesday promised to take concrete measures to provide relief to the people from severe drought conditions prevailing across the state. 

PR Minister K T Rama Rao along with Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy assured Assembly members during a short discussion on drought situation in the state and drinking water problem in the twin cities on Wednesday. "Funds are not a constraint in taking drought-relief measures, including providing drinking water to all habitations," said KTR.

"The government is also ready to provide funds from the Rs 4,675-crore Special Development Fund earmarked in the budget. Please hold review meetings with the district in-charge ministers and officers after the Assembly session to overcome problems at the village level. 

I urge all legislators to allocate funds from their constituency development fund which has now been increased to Rs 3 crore," he said. The minister said the government has taken up short term, medium and long term measures to



tackle the drought situation in the state. He said that Rs 389 crore have been released by the government, which would be with the district collectors.

Regarding the drinking water needs under the GHMC, the minister informed that every day the GHMC requires 660 MGD of water and government was able to supply 355 MGD through River Krishna. He said that four drinking water sources to Hyderabad -- Osmansagar, Himayatsagar, Manjeera and Singur had dried up resulting in water scarcity. He said that tankers were being used to overcome shortage of water.

He informed that there were 2,700 water bodies, including 169 in Hyderabad and over 2,500 in Ranga Reddy district. The minister said he would hold a review meeting with the city MLAs on overcoming drinking water problems here.

The minister informed that the government was taking steps to have 1,000 rain water harvesting pits in the GHMC area, which would be completed by June 2. He said the government would ensure digging of two lakh pits in the state.