As per reports, the following are the updates on the water scarcity issue in Telangana as of Monday (15 April):

• Amid decreasing water levels in the Sripada Yellampalli project, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) is implementing alternative measures to extract water. These include installing separate motors and establishing an electricity supply system to operate them.
• Currently, the reservoir holds 141.75 metres (7.08 tmc) of water, expected to reduce to 138.3 metres by 01 May 2024.
• To ensure motor operation, electricity transformers have been installed, along with 100 conductor capacity electric wires on 11 electric poles.
• Water will be drawn using temporary motors and discharged into HMWSSB’s gravity canal, facilitating supply to Hyderabad via regular motors. This process is expected to commence within the next 20 days.
• Additionally, arrangements are underway to provide water to Mission Bhagiratha from HMWSSB’s gravity canal.
• The HMWSSB has opted to deploy its new fleet of 170 mini water tankers to ensure water supply. In addition to its existing 540 registered tankers, the board has enlisted an additional 300 private tankers to meet the city’s drinking water demand. With the integration of the 170 new tankers into the fleet, the total number will reach over 1000.
• The board is also arranging to extract an additional 20 million gallons of water from the Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs, augmenting the current 20 mgd (million gallons per day) supply.
• The average groundwater level in Nirmal in March this year reached 10.19 metres, marking a decline from 8.94 metres in March 2023, representing a decrease of 1.25 metres. In Mancherial district, the average groundwater level fell by 0.96 metres, while Asifabad and Adilabad districts experienced decreases of 0.56 metres and 0.19 metres respectively compared to the same period last year. It is anticipated that the water level will further decrease by at least two metres in the next two months.
• With water levels reaching 509 feet, just one foot below the Minimum Draw Down Level in the Nagarjuna Sagar Project, preparations are underway to initiate emergency pumping from the project on Monday (15 April). Water levels in the Srisailam project have also dropped below the Minimum Draw Down Level of 834 feet.
• State government officials are engaged in discussions with Karnataka to secure releases from the Narayanpur dam. Additionally, plans are being made to extract water from the Singur project.
• Meanwhile, the Mission Bhagiratha department reassured that the current water storage is sufficient to fulfil the states’ drinking water needs for the summer. Further, any interruptions in Mission Bhagiratha water supply would be promptly addressed, with restoration within 12 hours.