HYDERABAD: With torrential rains filling the Himayathsagar and Osmansagar, and flood gates being opened in the former, experts have pointed towards the need to protect catchment of the reservoirs. They say the twin reservoirs are still the beating heart of the city and plans to scrap the GO111 would prove costly.
“The twin reservoirs are what have protected the city during these rains by storing water that would have otherwise flooded the streets. If not for them, there would have been a repeat of the 1908 floods and a similar loss of life,” said environmentalist Purushotham Reddy.
The reservoirs have been used as a buffer from floods and as drinking water sources for the city. The GO prohibits any construction or industrial activity with a 10km radius of the two reservoirs, which is being opposed by realtors, builders and industry. The government too has been considering of scrapping the GO, mainly contending that they are no more drinking water sources for Hyderabad.
Arguing against this, Reddy said, “The past few days have shown that the reservoirs are alive. They have been created in such a way that as drinking water sources, they can percolate the city naturally through gravity.” This, he said, is much better than the state’s plans to draw water from Krishna and Godavari rivers, which would need the water to be lifted, making it more costly and less sustainable.
There are thousands of encroachments on the catchment of the reservoirs in areas such as Chevella, Shamshabad, Moinabad, Kothuru, Rajendra Nagar and Shankarpalli, say experts. They feel not only do these encroach and pollute the catchment, but are under threat themselves during floods.
Water expert Narasimha Reddy Dhonti said, “The GO111 is in fact limited and needs to be strengthened. The catchment of the reservoirs is much larger than 10km. The rapid encroachment beyond the ‘protected area’ is what has led to the delayed filling of the reservoirs.” He added that instead of focusing at distant water sources, the government must first protect what is at hand by desilting to ensure their capacity is retained.
“The twin reservoirs are what have protected the city during these rains by storing water that would have otherwise flooded the streets. If not for them, there would have been a repeat of the 1908 floods and a similar loss of life,” said environmentalist Purushotham Reddy.
The reservoirs have been used as a buffer from floods and as drinking water sources for the city. The GO prohibits any construction or industrial activity with a 10km radius of the two reservoirs, which is being opposed by realtors, builders and industry. The government too has been considering of scrapping the GO, mainly contending that they are no more drinking water sources for Hyderabad.
Arguing against this, Reddy said, “The past few days have shown that the reservoirs are alive. They have been created in such a way that as drinking water sources, they can percolate the city naturally through gravity.” This, he said, is much better than the state’s plans to draw water from Krishna and Godavari rivers, which would need the water to be lifted, making it more costly and less sustainable.
There are thousands of encroachments on the catchment of the reservoirs in areas such as Chevella, Shamshabad, Moinabad, Kothuru, Rajendra Nagar and Shankarpalli, say experts. They feel not only do these encroach and pollute the catchment, but are under threat themselves during floods.
Water expert Narasimha Reddy Dhonti said, “The GO111 is in fact limited and needs to be strengthened. The catchment of the reservoirs is much larger than 10km. The rapid encroachment beyond the ‘protected area’ is what has led to the delayed filling of the reservoirs.” He added that instead of focusing at distant water sources, the government must first protect what is at hand by desilting to ensure their capacity is retained.
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