Hyderabad’s drinking water sources Singur and Manjira reservoirs decline, Telangana to divert Godavari water

The Telangana government decided to divert Godavari water to protect drinking-water supplies in Hyderabad. The decision responds to rapidly declining levels in the Singur and Manjira reservoirs. It is also intended to prepare for a possible acute water crisis in the coming months, amid El Nino conditions.

The plan will help areas that currently depend on the Singur and Manjira reservoirs. It will not create a separate citywide supply in the article’s description. Instead, it will allow another water source to support the existing Singur–Manjira network when needed.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed the action. HMWS&SB has started interconnecting pipelines near Velimela, close to the Outer Ring Road. After completion, Godavari water can reach areas served by the Singur–Manjira system and reduce the risk of supply disruptions during scarcity.

A reservoir is a stored body of water, usually held behind a dam or within a managed water facility. Singur and Manjira reservoirs form part of the drinking-water supply system serving areas of Hyderabad. The article identifies them as important sources because some parts of the city depend on their water.

Their role is especially significant when supplies must remain reliable through dry periods. As their levels decline, the water available to the Singur–Manjira network can become less secure. That creates a risk for households and other users in the areas connected to this system.

The State government is therefore arranging a backup connection from the Godavari system. Once the pipeline works finish, Godavari water can be diverted into the Singur–Manjira network as required. This could reduce disruption if the reservoirs continue falling, although the article does not describe the reservoirs’ storage capacities.

The interconnection works are designed to join the Godavari ring main with the pipelines carrying water through the Manjira system. This matters because water can be transferred between networks rather than remaining confined to its original supply route. It gives Hyderabad’s water managers another way to support areas facing scarcity.

The connection is being built near Velimela village, close to the Outer Ring Road. Workers are linking the 3,000-mm-diameter Godavari ring main to the 1,200-mm-diameter Manjira Phase-III and IV gravity main pipelines. When linked, water from the Godavari main can flow into the Manjira supply route.

The article says the diversion can happen as required. That means the connection is intended to provide operational flexibility, not necessarily a permanent replacement for Singur or Manjira water. Once completed, it should let Godavari water reach areas served by the Singur–Manjira system and lower disruption risks.

The Godavari ring main has a diameter of 3,000 millimetres, while the Manjira Phase-III and IV gravity mains each are described as 1,200-millimetre pipelines. Dividing 3,000 by 1,200 shows that the Godavari pipeline is 2.5 times larger in diameter.

A pipe’s cross-sectional area grows with the square of its diameter. On that simple geometric basis, a 3,000-mm pipe has about 6.25 times the cross-sectional area of a 1,200-mm pipe. That suggests the Godavari main could offer substantial transfer potential at the connection point.

However, pipe diameter alone does not establish the amount of water that will actually flow. Pressure, elevation, pump operation, pipe design, and network controls also matter. The article gives the dimensions and says diversion will be possible, but it does not state a flow rate or guaranteed capacity.

If Singur and Manjira reservoirs continue declining, the areas of Hyderabad that depend on them could face reduced or interrupted drinking-water supplies. The article calls the reservoirs fast declining and warns of a possible acute water crisis in the coming months. This makes the timing of the backup connection important.

Without a completed link, water managers would have fewer options for moving water from the Godavari system into the Singur–Manjira network. The existing supply route would remain more dependent on the shrinking reservoir sources. The immediate consequence could be greater difficulty maintaining regular supplies during periods of scarcity.

The article does not predict a definite shutdown or quantify a shortfall. It says the interconnection is intended to reduce that risk. Once completed, Godavari water can be supplied to areas served by the Singur–Manjira system, helping protect drinking-water continuity if reservoir conditions worsen.

El Niño is a climate pattern that can change rainfall and temperature conditions across regions. In Telangana, the concern is that altered or reduced rainfall could leave less water entering reservoirs and other sources. The article connects El Nino conditions with preparations for a possible acute water crisis.

That risk matters because the Singur and Manjira reservoirs are already described as fast declining. If dry conditions continue, their stored water may fall further while demand for drinking water remains. Hyderabad areas that depend on those reservoirs could then face greater pressure on their regular supplies.

The article does not give a rainfall forecast or quantify El Nino’s effect on Telangana. It says the government is acting in advance. By connecting the Godavari ring main to the Manjira pipelines, officials aim to make another source available if scarcity becomes more severe in the coming months.

A reservoir is a stored supply of water held for later use, often behind a dam or in another managed basin. It helps cities maintain drinking-water supplies when rivers or rainfall do not match daily demand. Singur and Manjira are examples of reservoirs supporting parts of Hyderabad’s water network.

A gravity-fed pipeline moves water because the source is at a higher elevation than the destination. Water flows downhill through the pipe under gravity. The Manjira Phase-III and IV pipelines are called gravity main pipelines, indicating that elevation helps move their water toward the supply network.

Water can also move through a pressurized pipeline when pumps or the source’s water level create pressure. The article does not explain the Godavari ring main’s exact operating method. It states that connecting the mains will allow Godavari water to be diverted into the Singur–Manjira network and supplied where required.