Hyderabad: Chief Secretary Sanjay Jaju on Saturday, October 31, directed officials to implement water conservation measures across the core urban region. He stressed coordinated efforts to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply while protecting freshwater and groundwater resources.
During a review meeting at the Secretariat, Jaju instructed departments to optimise water consumption and adopt sustainable management practices. He also announced that the Green Tankers initiative would begin in the core urban region on November 1.
The initiative formed part of the government’s efforts to promote treated water use and reduce dependence on freshwater supplies. Jaju directed all government departments to use treated water for construction, landscaping, cleaning and other non-drinking purposes.
He instructed officials to avoid using freshwater for activities where treated water could serve as an alternative. Moreover, the Chief Secretary emphasised the need to maintain prescribed quality standards for treated water supplied by Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs).
He directed officials to conduct regular quality monitoring to ensure compliance with those standards. The Chief Secretary also instructed the Managing Director of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) to submit daily reports.
These reports must specify the quantity of treated water transported and supplied, measured in million gallons per day (MGD). The monitoring mechanism would help officials track treated water distribution and consumption across the core urban region.
Additional 40 MGD water supply expected by November 15
During the meeting, HMWSSB Managing Director Ashok Reddy briefed Jaju on contingency arrangements for maintaining uninterrupted drinking water supply. He informed the Chief Secretary that the additional 40 MGD water supply scheme under Mission Bhagiratha would be completed by November 15.
The review also covered arrangements for supplying bulk water to urban local bodies incorporated into municipal corporations. Jaju said Mission Bhagiratha would continue supplying bulk water to all such merged Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) until August next year.
Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary reiterated the importance of coordinated water conservation measures to safeguard available resources. He directed officials to ensure efficient water utilisation while maintaining drinking water supplies across the core urban region.