HYDERABAD: Over 150 residential colonies in some areas of the city and peripheral areas of Greater Hyderabad continue to reel under drinking water crisis. Tankers are operated to meet the needs of over one lakh consumers in these colonies.
Even after 10 days, these areas, which were flooded, are yet to get rid of sludge and sewerage water. All the water sumps are filled with mud and silt. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has cautioned the consumers that water stored in these sumps is not fit for consumption due to contamination.
According to officials of HMWS&SB, more than 30 to 40 colonies in Chandrayangutta, Bahadurpura, Tolichowki, Karwan, Langer Houz, Hyderguda, Mehdipatnam, Moosarambagh, parts of Malakpet, Yakutpura, Balapur, Aliabad and other areas were severely affected. In Greater Hyderabad periphery, a total of 70 to 80 colonies were hit badly. Uppal, Peerzadiguda, Boduppal and Jawaharnagar have been affected severely due to Gurram Cheruvu breaching.
“Though flood water has receded, we cannot clean the water sumps as they are filled with mud and silt. We are getting drinking water, supplied by the Water Board through tankers,” Mohammed Pasha, a resident of Ahmed Colony, told STOI.
Some residents are worried about fresh alert of floodgates of Osmansagar getting lifted to let out excess water. “Weather is playing hide and seek with us,” said Syed Azeem of the same colony. When STOI contacted HMWS&SB OSD TV Sridhar, he said: “We are providing free tankers to all the affected areas without interruption. Pure and safe drinking water is also supplied through hundreds of water cans to inaccessible areas.” Officials said specific instructions were issued to Water Board officers of affected areas to ensure uninterrupted supplies till the situation comes under control.