Telangana Plans Water Conservation Drive Amid El Niño Concerns

Telangana Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju said the government would conduct a 60-day awareness campaign to promote water conservation in view of the El Niño conditions. He reviewed drinking water supply preparedness across the GHMC, MMC and CMC areas at the Secretariat on Tuesday. Officials said 560 million gallons per day (MGD) of water was currently available for Hyderabad’s core area from sources including Osman Sagar, Himayat Sagar, Manjeera, Krishna and Godavari. They are preparing a plan to utilise an additional 60 MGD, comprising 15 MGD from the Krishna River, 40 MGD through Mission Bhagiratha, and 5 MGD each from Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar.

Officials said the completion of the Mallanna Sagar pipeline in November could make an additional 20 MGD available for use. The government also plans to implement alternative arrangements based on water availability in Medak, Nizamabad, Kamareddy and Sangareddy districts, which receive supplies through the Manjeera and Singur reservoirs. Jaju called for involving film actors, public figures and celebrities in efforts to raise awareness about water conservation. Danakishore, Ashok Reddy, R.V. Karnan, Vinay Krishna Reddy, Srujana and other officials attended the review meeting.