70% water pipelines old and defective

HYDERABAD: Next time you pick up a glass of water, just pause a second before you gulp. At least 70 per cent of the drinking water pipelines in the Greater Hyderabad limits are either old or defective and need to be replaced.And the cost for the same is estimated to be around Rs 1,152 crore! The pipeline network is about 934 km long.These figures are based on detailed studies carried out by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) through private consultants. The latter applied various parameters like the pipe material, risks involved, their condition and age before recommending that the water board replace pipelines extending up to 594 km in the GHMC limits Not so long ago, contaminated water had led to the hospitalisation of a few in the twin cities leading to a hue and cry.The water board, though conscious of the danger of drinking water getting mixed with sewage, has been slow to replace defective pipelines due to its financial crunch.Considering the difficulty in mobilising funds, the HMWS&SB has proposed to undertake replacement of old pipelines in a phased manner. The areas, where they need to be replaced, have also been identified by the Institute Of Preventive Medicine, Institute of Health Systems and the quality assurance wing of the HMWS&SB based on water quality reports.The estimated cost of new pipelines in “chronic pollution prone areas” as they are called is about `75 crore and the proposed lines cover about 177 km.“The works would be taken up and completed on a priority basis so as to maintain water quality,” officials said.The water board has requested the government to lend `75 crore as a special package for completion of the identified works on a war footing.The government, though, has sanctioned just about `10 crore and promised to release another ` five crore soon.A proposal to request the government for the release of the remaining `65 crore came up before the water board but no decision has been taken in this regard.The board is expected to urge the government once again sooner than later.Concerned citizens have been demanding new water pipelines for a long time to prevent deaths caused by water contamination.Wanted: `1,152 croreThe water board needs Rs 1,152 crore to lay new pipelines in the twin cities.Facing a cash crunch, it has urged the government to sanction Rs 75 crore so that the works could be taken up in “chronic pollution prone” areas in a phased manner.However, the government has released only Rs 10 crore and promised to release another Rs 5 crore soon.The water board needs to replace old pipelines for up to 594 km in the Greater Hyderabad limits to ensure safe drinking water supply to the citizens.