HYDERABAD: During annual closure of Kotri Barrage (Dec 26 to Jan 10), the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) has to manage drinking water supply to the city through alternative sources because it has not been able to rebuild its third water storage lagoon yet. The rebuilding work has been pending for 13 years.

Wasa officials claimed that its existing northern and southern lagoons, one with 230MGD and the other with 170MGD capacity, were completely filled and would be enough to meet drinking water needs of the city. These storages directly supply water to the 10MGD and 30MGD filtration plants located off Rajputana Road.

In addition to the lagoons, said an official, Wasa also installed three pumps of 5MGD each downstream and one 10MGD capacity turbine at upstream to keep lifting water for the city throughout closure period.

Hyderabad depends on two reservoirs during 15-day closure of Kotri barrage

This enables Wasa to ensure water supply although some rationing was done during the closure period. “The needs for water supply drop due to winter season, therefore shortage usually doesn’t occur,” said one official. Besides, two storages of 8MGD each Hala Naka and Paretabad also feed other parts of the city.

Wasa had built an additional lagoon with soil reclaimed during desilting of its northern and southern lagoons. This additional lagoon with a capacity of 100MGD was built 18 years ago, but it developed a breach 13 years ago and since then it could not be rebuilt for storage purposes.

If that lagoon was made functional, it would also provide an additional storage of 100MGD for the city. Electric supply disruption is causing problems to filtration plants’ working since Sunday and Monday rains in the city. This affects overall supply of drinking water.

Wasa regularly witnesses transfer of managing directors and when officers from departments other than Wasa were posted there, they found it hard to understand technical and tricky job of the civic body. Wasa employees had been observing strikes intermittently for a long time which was adversely affecting its performance. “A scheme for additional lagoon rehabilitation is pending for execution. Boundaries of two existing lagoons will also be raised,” said an official. These lagoons are located in Karan Khan Shoro village near Kotri Barrage from where they supply water to two filtration plants. The older lagoons also needed desilting.

According to another official, Wasa lifts water from upstream and downstream when the barrage authorities release entire flows downstream for annual maintenance. “We have multiple systems at Kotri Barrage that keep replenishing our supplies for the city,” said former managing director Saleemuddin.

He said that when annual closure came to an end and river flows were maintained upstream by the barrage authorities, the water supplies became easier.

The barrage would remain closed till Jan 10. Its all four canals — Kalri Baghar (KB) feeder, old Phulelli, new Phulelli and Akram Wah — (one on the right and rest on the left side) would also remain closed for maintenance. Water flows would be released downstream barrage as all 44 gates of barrage will remain open.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2021