Big relief for residents of Hyderabad, as 4 floodgates closed, one remain open at Himayatsagar reservoir

Hyderabad, Residents along the Musi riverbank can now breathe a sigh of relief as the floodgates that were lifted on Thursday, have now been closed due to the reduced inflows. Of the seven floodgates that were lifted, only one remains open now at Himayatsagar reservoir. The four gates were closed as inflows dipped for the third consecutive day.

It may be noted that the reservoir has seventeen floodgates, of which seven were opened earlier in a phased manner to release water into the Musi river. Due to the heavy rainfall, the floodgates of the reservoir were lifted to release the excess water.  

As a result, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB), and the police had to issue a high alert to people residing in low-lying areas, especially to those dwellings that were located along the Musi riverbank. The



authorities urged them to relocate as a precautionary measure.

As of now, the water discharged into the Musi river - from the one open gate of the reservoir - stands at 343 cusecs. According to the officials of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB), at first, they had decided to close only two gates on Monday, however, they ultimately decided to close down four gates pertaining to the reduced inflows.

"At present, the reservoir's water level was 1,761.75 ft against its full tank level (FTL) of 1,763.5 ft," said the officials, reported The Times of India.

As for Osmansagar, the situation at the reservoir was quite stable following the closure of two floodgates on Sunday. According to a water board official, the inflows to Osmansagar were 150 cusecs. "The recorded water level was 1,786 ft against FTL of 1,790 ft," added the official.