Government Plans to Develop Sewage Systems in Telangana ULBs

To create safe, hygienic and sustainable towns in Telangana, the government is planning to develop sewerage and stormwater drainage networks across the 134 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) including the newly established ULBs by next two to three years. 

Telangana Sewerage Scheme Over 134 ULB’s

The planned sewerage scheme in the State would be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 22,500 crore. While sewage schemes cost Rs 13500 crore and stormwater drainage schemes in 134 ULBs cost Rs 9000 crore. In the current financial year, 2020-21 much of this work is expected to take shape.

The Public Health and Municipal Engineering Department (PHMED) will be responsible for building a wastewater treatment plant in 30 towns that come under the contamination of the four rivers with an underground drainage network. It will be constructed at an approximate cost of Rs 2828 crore. The plant will be run by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development department. Also, the department is responsible for the formulation, design, preparation and implementation of water supply, sewerage and stormwater drainage systems in 140 ULBs excluding GHMC in the State.

Almost 1,253 million litres of contaminated wastewater (MLD) a day entering water bodies, especially in urban areas of the State. Effective urban wastewater and septage systems have become necessary in order to create hygienic areas in the City. Comprehensive project reports for wastewater and stormwater drainage schemes in 59 ULB have already been prepared. Most of them go from draft proposals to drainage schemes at different stages of implementation.

In 2019-20 almost 11 underground drainages (UGD) projects were taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 1,235 crore and three UGD projects in Vikarabad, Karimnagar and Nizamabad have been completed. The UGD project in Siddipet progressed rapidly with the completion of one of the two planned STPs.

List of Ongoing Sewage Treatment Plants (STP)

The areas in which STPs are at work in UGD (underground drainage) projects include

  • Nalgonda
  • Miryalaguda
  • Khammam
  • Suryapet
  • Nagarkurnool
  • Gajwel-Pragnapur
  • Devarakonda

During the period of 2009-14, only 580 km of sewer networks, One STP, 13 MLD treatment and 15000 residential sewer connections, were established by the ULBs in Telangana, excluding GHMC, of former Andhra Pradesh. However, the government completed 710 km of sewerage systems in 2014-19, after the formation of Telangana state, apart from the construction of six STPs with 107 MLD capacity. During the time approximately 1.28 lakh houses were also received sewer connections.

However, the Government sewerage schemes would provide a healthier environment near the houses in Hyderabad and more appropriate way to manage liquid wastes.

By: Shailaja K