Water Board wins accolades in 2018

Hyderabad: In their efforts to transform Hyderabad city into a world-class city, Telangana government is giving high priority to drinking water and sewerage sector and allocated more funds to Jalamandali. Under the direction of the then Minister for Municipal Administration, KT Rama Rao, and its managing director Dana Kishore, Jalamandali, started using modern technologies to find solutions to sewerage issues plaguing the city. Mini air tech machines, which were designed by Jalamandali engineers and staff, attracted attention of several states. Even Prime Minister’s Office evinced interest in the technology. Jalamandali even received several awards for using unmanned tools for cleaning. 

To prevent manual labour in the sewerage works, Jalamandali has been using 73 mini jetting machines, which brought about a revolutionary change in sewerage department. PM’s Office congratulated Jalamandali for use of such machines and is planning replicate it across the nation. With its radical changes and innovative solutions in water supply system, Jalamandali has inspired several states. It received ISO certificate because of its efforts to supply drinking water without compromising on quality. It introduced effective customer complaints system and spread its social services. 

Prominent among the awards received by Jalamandali for its services include: Hudco award for use of innovative methods in project implementation; excellency award for effective management of drinking water and sewerage; Telangana state energy conservation award for saving energy; and won Amruth Tech Challenge 2018 for its effective management of sewerage systems. Keeping in mind future water needs of the city, Jalamandali has proposed water grid as permanent solution, integrating Krishna-Godavari river water and building large water reservoirs at Keshavapur and Devula Nagaram.  Great team work by Jalamandali officials under the able leadership of MD Dana Kishore strengthened drinking water and sewerage systems in the city. 

As part of urban Mission Bhagiratha, Jalamandali has initiated works for 56 service reservoirs worth Rs 1,900 crore and 2,000 km pipeline system in the municipal circles in outer Hyderabad (beyond outer ring road). About 1 lakh tap connections have been sanctioned under HUDCO project. Another drinking water project worth Rs 738 crore has been initiated for supplying water to colonies which are within outer ring road. This project includes building of 192 reservoirs with 200 km of pipe lines. 150 villages are already receiving regular supply of water under this project. The project is expected to be completed by next month, benefitting approximately 10 lakh population with 1.5 lakh tap connections. Jalamandali also completed the project worth Rs 398 crore for extending the pipe line to 1800 mm dia pipe line from Ghanpur reservoir to Patancheru. 

Similarly, it submitted DPR for the project with estimated cost of Rs 4,000 crore for Ringmain-2 which would integrate Godavari, Krishna and Manjira river water and water can be supplied from one area to another depending on water availability at the area. To strengthen its sewerage system, it established purification plants worth Rs 3,000 crore. It prepared a DPR for building separate sewerage lines along Musi River and submitted it to the government. Jalamandali also made efforts to develop rain water harvesting systems in the city. It signed agreement with 14 NGOs to build percolation pits to save rain water under its program ‘Jalam-Jeevam’. Use of modern technology Jalamandali has been using modern technology to find solutions to issues. 

Robotic 360 degrees camera: This camera, developed by Bengaluru-based company Sanitor, recognises objects in sewerage lines when it is sent into lines through manholes. This camera can rotate 360 degrees in the pipe line. The camera is attached with a cable and can reach up to 30 meters into pipe line. GHMC staff can know the location of the object obstructing the flow of sewer using this tool. 
Sewer Crack: A tool developed by Sanitor destroys objects in sewerage lines. Weighing 12 kg, this tool has small wheels and moves in any direction in the pipe line. It is attached to jetting machines and sent into sewerage lines. It has sharp blades and can cut any objects obstructing sewerage lines. Mobile gas detector: This tool is used to identify presence of poisonous gases in sewerage lines and pipe lines. This mobile tool can be carried easily. Before initiating any repair works inside sewerage lines, the observer of this tool is sent through the manhole to detect the presence of poisonous gases. 

Awards and accolades

It has won Telangana State Energy Conservation Award 2018 from Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation for saving power. Other awards are as follows: HUDCO award for innovative solutions; ISC certificate for consumer services; Corporate membership in International Water Association; Telangana Excellency Award to MD Dana Kishore; and, First place in Amrith Tech Challenge 2018 for its innovative sewerage systems