Mission Bhagiratha ..... Statement by Minister KTR in the Assembly

Mission Bhagiratha

Statement by Minister KTR in the Assembly

20^th December 2016

Objective

Government of Telangana has taken up Telangana Drinking Water Supply Project named “Mission Bhagiratha” as one of the flagship programmes of the State with a commitment to provide safe, adequate, sustainable and treated drinking water for the entire rural and urban areas of the State by ’2017. The project is envisaged to bring down disease burden, a causative factor for consuming contaminated water and improve health standards as well as family’s economic status thereby.  

Goals of the project

            It is a unique and most comprehensive project, to cover all households on a saturation mode. It envisages treated drinking water to every household at their door step at the rate of 100 LPCD in rural areas, 135 LPCD in Municipalities/ Nagarpalikas and 150 LPCD in Municipal Corporations. 10% of total water will be earmarked to meet the Industrial needs.

     Need of the Project

·        Even though the state is served by two major river basins – Krishna and Godavari, rural drinking water has been heavily dependent on groundwater which has become an unreliable and unsafe source.

·        Every alternative year, the state is facing drought situation and due to over exploitation, the ground water table is depleting. With depletion of ground water, the concentration of fluoride, iron and salinity is increasing in the ground water leading to quality problems.

·        In many parts of Telangana, ground water contains high concentration of fluoride in the subsurface strata.

·        World Health Organisation and Government of India (NRDWP guidelines) recommended shifting from Ground water to surface sources.

Scope of the Project

Ø  Supply of treated surface water to all habitations in rural areas(24248 nos-52.18 lakh households), urban local bodies(65 ULBs-12.52 lakh households) to cover  the entire state outside the outer ring road (ORR) of Hyderabad.

Ø  All existing water supply schemes and ongoing drinking water projects in rural and urban areas are integrated and upgraded with the Mission Bhagiratha.

Ø  Laying of Optic Fibre duct along the pipeline for enabling to provide internet to every household.

Ø  Out of total 72 ULBs excluding GHMC, Bulk supply to 65 ULBs are made by Mission Bhagiratha and the balance 7 ULBs & 183 rural habitations inside the ORR by HMWSSB.

Ø  HMWSSB invited tenders on annuity model to cover 7 ULBs and 183 habitations with a project cost of Rs 628 crores.

Ø  Intra distribution system in 23 ULBs which were converted from Major Gram Panchayats are proposed to be taken up by RWS&S department. 7 ULBs are proposed to be taken up by PHED with World Bank assistance.35 ULBs including 10 AMRUT towns, with a project cost of Rs 2296 crores are proposed to be takenup on modified annuity basis and tenders are invited in 3 packages.

Water Drawl and Sources

·        The Project contemplates to draw about 42.67 TMC of water (@ 2018) from major reservoirs,  Krishna and Godavari rivers. The Government is committed by reserving 10% of water in all the reservoirs for drinking water purpose and also committed to first charge for drinking water. Necessary water drawl permissions are also accorded. 

·        Krishna  Rivers and their tributaries and reservoirs                     - 19.00 TMC        

·        Godavari Rivers and their tributaries and reservoirs                   - 22.67 TMC

                     Total Water Drawl                                                                - 42.67 TMC

Salient feature

·        The Mission Bhagiratha with an outlay of Rs 42,853 crores is divided into 26 main segments covering geographical area of 1.11 lakh Square kilometers.

·        The Project is designed in coherence with the nature and topography of the Telangana State thereby 98% of transmission & distribution systems function by gravity.

·        Total length of pipelines, in this project is 1.44 lakh kms which includes construction of new pipeline of 1.006 lakh kms.

·        State Government has also brought in Right of User in Land (ROU) Act for giving rights to the RWS&S department, for laying the pipelines, without acquiring land.

·        Total about 235 MW power is required for the Project.

·        Telangana Drinking Water Supply Corporation” is set up with Hon’ble CM as the Chairman and Special Chief Secretary to Government PR PD & RWS dept as Managing Director, for overseeing the implementation and maintenance of the Project.

Administrative Sanctions

·        Till now, administrative sanction was accorded for Rs. 37813.01 Cr towards intake arrangements, transmission system for all habitations and intra village system for 3811 habitations & 3 ULBs.

·        Administrative sanction for balance Intra village system works is under process for Rs 5978.12 crores.

·        Financial closure achieved with 18 commercial banks, NABARD & HUDCO for 24 segments costing Rs 32184.64 crores with loan amount of Rs 25524.30 crores and state margin of Rs 6660.34 crores.  Further, negotiations are in advanced stage with  banks for financial tie-up worth Rs 5366.00 crores.

·        Financial closure of  Rs 1084.89 crores achieved with NABARD-RIDF with loan component of Rs 908.87 crores and State margin of Rs 176.02 crores  for  intra village works during 2016-17

                  Status of works:

·        Intake arrangements: Out of total (19) intake structures, (8) are completed and the balance are in advanced stage for completion.

·        Water treatment Plants: Out of 50 WTPs, (6) Water treatment plants are nearing completion and balance (44) are in brisk progress.

·        Transmission System: Out of (554) Sumps/GLBRs, (121) are completed. Further (90) OHBRs are completed out of total (596). Pipeline of 12,758 kms is laid till date. Bulk treated water supply  is being made to 842 habitations.

·        Intra Village System:  Intra village system is sanctioned in 3811 habitations and the works are in good progress. Till date, 714 habitations are covered with distribution system including tap connections.

·        Power: Out of 179 HT connections, 86 are completed and the balance are in progress

·        OFC duct: 1920 kms of OFC duct was laid along the side of water pipelines.

·        The Government have issued guidelines vide GO Rt 989 dt 8.12.2016, for entrustment and execution of balance intra village works for expediting the intra village works as well as encouraging the local agencies and contractors

·      Coordination and convergence meeting at highest level with all stake holders and utility providers were held to obtain permissions for 12330 service crossings, in a short span of time

·        Gajwel Sub-segment was Commissioned by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 07.08.201

·        All the habitations are targeted for completion by ’2017

·        Till now an expenditure of Rs 7469.78 crores is made on Works.

               Appreciations

·        HUDCO presented award to Government of Telangana for best outstanding contribution in the infrastructure sector through innovative initiatives

·        Hon’ble Prime Minister made special mention of Mission Bhagiratha in his ‘’Man ki Bath’’ on 22.5.2016 and applauded the efforts made by the Telangana government in drinking water supply sector.

·        This project received encomium from Hon’ble Prime Minister, GOI, Niti Aayog and other states like UP, West Bengal, Bihar, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.