Telangana government abandons Keshavapuram reservoir; move saves Rs 2,000 crore | Hyderabad News

HYDERABAD: The government on Wednesday scrapped the proposed reservoir at Keshavapuram on the outskirts of the city, thereby reconsidering the second phase of the Godavari drinking water project.
It was decided to take water for the city from Mallannasagar instead of Kondapochamasagar, which are part of Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (CLIS). The government will save Rs 2,000 million.

The Keshavapuram project was designed to provide drinking water to the city, bring back into service the city’s two reservoirs, Himayatsagar and Osmansagar, and clean up Musi.
The contract was canceled as work did not start even six years after the tender was announced due to problems in land acquisition.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed the municipal administration and the urban development department to invite tenders for the second phase of the Godavari drinking water project and rejuvenation of Himayatsagar and Osmansagar, as well as Musi Cleanup Project.
The previous BRS government in 2018 finalized a drinking water supply scheme to draw 10 trillion cubic feet (thousand million cubic feet) of water from Kondapochamasagar.
The contract was awarded to Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Limited (MEIL) for a value of approximately Rs 4,770 crore under the hybrid annuity mode of the contract for a project storage tank of 5 trillion cubic feet and another 10 trillion cubic feet from Kondapochamasagar with Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Ghanpur .
MEIL was unable to commence work due to land acquisition issues as tracts of forest and defense land needed to be acquired for the project.
Government sources said that the cancellation of previous tenders was a mutual agreement between the government (Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) and MEIL based on the terms of the agreement.
MEIL had earlier asked for an increase in the cost of the project as tenders were floated in 2017 as per the then Standard Schedule of Rates (SSR). However, the government did not agree to increase prices.
“Revised Godavari Project to Provide Lower Cost of Water”
Officials explained that under the new route, Godavari water will be diverted to the city from Mallannasagar and Ghanpur to Hyderabad instead of Kondapochamasagar. The government wants to take 15 tcft of water from Mallannasagar for the city’s needs and fill two reservoirs.
“The capacity of Kondapochamasagara reservoir is only 15 trillion cubic feet, while the capacity of Mallannasagar reservoir is 50 trillion cubic feet. In Mallannasagar, it is possible to draw water from the dead storage facility, whereas this was not possible from Kondapochamasagar,” officials explained.
Secondly, in the old scheme, to provide drinking water under Phase II of Godavari, water had to be lifted at five places: Akkaram, Markuk, Kondapochamma Sagar, Bommarasipet and Ghanpur. This will now be required in only two places: Mallannasagar and Ghanpur, the officials added.
Officials said that since water is supplied by gravity in most places, the energy costs for lifting water through pumping stations will be significantly reduced. In addition, the pipeline will stretch 162 km to Osmansagar, which will provide drinking water to villages passing along the route.
“The cost of a kiloliter under the old scheme was Rs 48; now, under the revised scheme, the cost will be only Rs 4 per KLD,” said a senior MA&UD official.
Officials explained that under the new route, Godavari water will be diverted to the city from Mallannasagar and Ghanpur to Hyderabad instead of Kondapochamasagar. The government wants to take 15 tcft of water from Mallannasagar for the city’s needs and fill two reservoirs.
“The capacity of Kondapochamasagara reservoir is only 15 trillion cubic feet, while the capacity of Mallannasagar reservoir is 50 trillion cubic feet. In Mallannasagar, it is possible to draw water from the dead storage facility, whereas this was not possible from Kondapochamasagar,” officials explained.
Secondly, in the old scheme, to provide drinking water under Phase II of Godavari, water had to be lifted at five places: Akkaram, Markuk, Kondapochamma Sagar, Bommarasipet and Ghanpur. This will now be required in only two places: Mallannasagar and Ghanpur, the officials added.
Officials said that since water is supplied by gravity in most places, the energy costs for lifting water through pumping stations will be significantly reduced. In addition, the pipeline will stretch 162 km to Osmansagar, which will provide drinking water to villages passing along the route.
“The cost of a kiloliter under the old scheme was Rs 48; now, under the revised scheme, the cost will be only Rs 4 per KLD,” said a senior MA&UD official.