El Niño Raises Drinking Water Concerns in Hyderabad

Hyderabad could face drinking water shortages if drought-like conditions persist due to the impact of El Niño, with declining water levels in the Manjeera and Singur reservoirs raising concerns. Around nine key Assembly constituencies that depend on the Manjeera pipeline could be affected. Singur currently holds 3.029 TMC of water against its total capacity of 29.91 TMC, while Manjeera has just 0.19 TMC against a capacity of 1.50 TMC. According to a report submitted by water board officials to the government, the available reserves in the two reservoirs may last for only around 60 days after accounting for evaporation, leakage and other losses. Water is currently being supplied to the affected areas once every two days for just 40 to 45 minutes.

The areas at risk include parts of Serilingampally, Kukatpally, Patancheru, Khairatabad, Jubilee Hills, Karwan, Sanathnagar, Rajendranagar and Quthbullapur. Groundwater levels have already fallen in some localities, increasing demand for water tankers. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to step up alternative arrangements. The Water Board is working to connect the Manjeera pipelines with the Godavari Phase-I network. Officials have also urged the Irrigation Department to prioritise drinking water requirements from the Yellampalli reservoir, which currently holds 17.703 TMC against its capacity of 20.17 TMC. The pipeline-linking works are expected to be completed within the next two months, potentially helping the city manage the anticipated shortage.