Emergency pumping from Nagarjunasagar to quench thirst of Hyderabad, EL Nino adds to Sun’s fury

HYDERABAD: Severe heat and depleting groundwater have adverse effects on the availability of drinking water in all major municipalities of Telangana including Hyderabad. While the super El Nino has started weakening, the effect is expected to linger on for the coming three months giving no respite from the incessant heat.

In the majority of the 103 municipalities in the State, the demand for drinking rose along with the spike in temperature. The demand rose by 4.99 percent in most of the municipalities. In 12 municipalities the demand rose by 10 percent, 20-25 percent in 10 municipalities, 69 percent in Kodad municipality, and 20-29 percent in Khammam. In Nirmal where the per day demand rose to 18.8 MLD, availability was only 15.6 MLD.

Action Plan for Hyderabad

The HMWSSB has drafted an action plan to bring additional drinking water supplies to Hyderabad even though the water levels in Nagarjuna Sagar touched rock bottom. The plan is to start emergency pumping from the first week of April when the water levels touch 512 feet.

The water level in Nagarjuna Sagar is 513.5 feet right now out of the FRL of 590 feet. It is expected that the level will decrease to reach 511.5 feet by the end of March end. The water supply to Hyderabad will stop if the water levels touch 510 feet. So the plan is to fix pumps to lift water when the FRL is still at 512 feet. In all 10 motors will be pressed into service to lift 900 cusecs of water from the backwaters of Nagarjuna Sagar.

The water will be routed to Hyderabad via the Puttagandi channel to Akkannapalli reservoir, and from there via the Alimineti Madhava Reddy canal to Kodandapur reservoir. The water will then be purified for supply to Hyderabad city. In all 6 TMC will be required to quench the thirst of Hyderabad in the coming four months.

El Nino is weakening, but not soon

According to Skymet Weather, El Nino has started weakening but the warm oceans won't be cooled so fast. The impact might start lessening in May.

Weather watchers observed an unexpected spike in the Indian Ocean for the week ending March 17, 2024. However, the steep rise in heat can get diluted in the subsequent weeks. Fortunately, the tropical Pacific is experiencing a gradual decline in El Nino conditions.

It has been observed that a Super El Nino that the earth has endured so far will be followed by a strong La Nina, improving monsoon prospects. However, El Nino and La Nina are not the only two factors that determine the monsoon other oceanic conditions play an important role too.