Two gates of Osman Sagar opened after 10 years

The continuing rains over the last few days have forced authorities to open the gates of the Osman Sagar after a gap of 10 years, while two more gates of the Himayat Sagar too were lifted on Thursday.

With water bodies in and around Hyderabad receiving abundant inflows due to continuous rains for more than a week, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) lifted two out of the 15 gates of the Osman Sagar, while the Himayat Sagar, which had its gates lifted after a decade in 2020, now has five of its 17 gates lifted in the last three days.

On Wednesday, the water level at Himayat Sagar was recorded at 1,762.60 feet against the FTL of 1,763.50 feet. The reservoir capacity is 2.97 TMC and on Wednesday the water level was 2.716 TMC. While the water body was receiving 600 cusecs of inflow, the outflow stood at 1,030 cusecs. 

At Osman Sagar meanwhile, the water level was recorded at 1,784.90 feet against the FTL of



1,790 feet. The reservoir capacity is 3.90 TMC and on Wednesday the water level was 2.817 TMC. While the water body was receiving 400 cusecs of inflow, the recorded outflow was 180.

HMWSSB officials said in a press release that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rains for two more days following which the decision to open the gates in both the reservoirs was taken. The board has issued necessary directions to departments including Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, police and the revenue department apart from to three district collectorates as well.

Officials of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medchal- Malkajgiri district collectorates and line departments were asked to take up appropriate measures in downstream areas of the Himayat Sagar, Osman Sagar and the Musi catchment area. The Water board’s emergency response teams were also pressed into service to inspect low-lying areas near the Musi.