Hyderabad faces water shortages due to rainfall deficit

Hyderabad is experiencing a significant water crisis driven by a rainfall deficit and declining groundwater levels, attributed in part to the El Niño effect. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) reports that daily water tanker bookings have reached approximately 6,500, nearly double the typical peak demand recorded in previous years.

Low levels in the Singur reservoir have led to a projected 20 to 50 per cent decline in water supply for several major institutions, including the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H), Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Ordnance Factory, and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL). Industrial supplies in Sangareddy have also been impacted, with water supplies to chemical companies halted and allocations to beverage manufacturers reduced.

The Telangana government has initiated contingency plans to ensure an uninterrupted supply. This includes a strategy to secure an additional 60 million gallons per day (MGD) through sources such as the Krishna River and the Mission Bhagiratha project. Additionally, a pipeline from Mallannasagar is expected to be operational by November, which could provide an extra 20 MGD to the city.