Hyderabad: With water scarcity reaching alarming levels, treated nala water is in heavy demand by both the government and private agencies. Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority authorities is getting many enquiries regarding the quantity on sale and the price.
Currently HMDA is charging Rs 35 per kilo litre, while 8 million litre per day is available for sale.
The HMDA per day treats 50 MLD of water from four nalas, of which 35 MLD is allowed back in the Hussain Sagar for lake balance and the rest is used by HMDA and GHMC for landscaping in the city. In May 2015, revenue of over Rs 4 lakh was generated from sale of treated water.
Last year there were fewer takers. Though HMDA was ready to supply 7 MLD, only 2-3 MLD was sold and the rest was allowed back into the lake. The demand now has crossed 7 MLD and the HMDA is unable to supply the same as it needs 35 MLD for Hussain Sagar lake balance. Construction company Engineers Syndicate, the effluent treatment plant at Jeedimetla and Jai Manik Enterprises have shown interest in bulk bookings from April. Earlier Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority had decreased the price of one KL to Rs 10 as there were less takers.
S. Srinivas , member Environment, Buddha Purnima wing of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority said, “Currently there is one filling station operational, based on the demand we have to make arrangement for another station. Over three enquiries are coming every day, mostly from private construction companies. Construction companies mainly use treated water for curing purposes. The water can be used for anything except drinking.”
Another sewerage treatment plant is planned at Durgam Cheruvu to sell treated nala water to other parts of the city .
