Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on Thursday, 23 July 2026 directed officials to prepare a comprehensive drinking water supply master plan for the Core Urban Region Economy (CURE) of Hyderabad, covering needs for the next 50 years. The review was conducted at Bodhi Pavilion, MCRHRDI, with senior officials of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) in attendance.

Context

The Chief Minister chaired a detailed review of ongoing water supply works and sewage treatment plant (STP) construction under the HMWSSB. He stressed that uniform drinking water supply must be ensured across GHMC, Malkajgiri, and Cyberabad Municipal Corporations, as well as the merged municipalities brought under the metropolitan framework. The directive calls for a single integrated planning approach across all these civic bodies.

Revanth Reddy flagged a long-standing problem: several areas within the GHMC limits have been receiving drinking water only once every three to four days. He stated this situation must end, and instructed officials to immediately take steps to ensure supply on an alternate-day basis as an interim improvement target.

Policy Backdrop

GHMC was constituted in 2007 through the merger of surrounding municipalities to enable coordinated urban governance. Earlier administrations had launched multi-source augmentation projects drawing from the Krishna and Godavari river basins to expand raw water availability for the city. The current push for a 50-year master plan extends that trajectory, seeking to future-proof supply infrastructure for a rapidly expanding metropolitan region.

The review also comes against the backdrop of El Niño-driven rainfall deficit, which has historically reduced monsoon output across southern India and tightened urban water availability. The Chief Minister specifically cited this climatic pressure as a reason to exercise heightened caution over drinking water supply management in the coming months.

Key Directives and Stakeholder Impact

Revanth Reddy ordered that all drinking water sources surrounding Hyderabad be interlinked, so that if one source fails, supply to affected areas can be maintained from an alternative source. He set a firm deadline of 18 months for completing all ongoing water supply works, and directed that STP construction be completed within stipulated timelines. Where legal disputes are stalling projects, officials were told to resolve them swiftly.

For accountability, the Chief Minister directed that a monthly progress report on water supply works and STP construction be submitted to him, supported by a dedicated dashboard to track real-time project progress. He also instructed officials to frame and enforce regulations requiring industries and construction projects to use grey water — treated wastewater — in place of fresh water wherever possible.

The review was attended by Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary for Municipal Affairs; Manik Raj, CM's Secretary; K. Ashok Reddy, MD of HMWSSB; Mayank Mittal, Joint MD; and other senior officials.

What's Next

The immediate priority is the preparation and submission of the 50-year CURE drinking water master plan, which will guide infrastructure investment across the expanded metropolitan region. Officials are expected to move quickly on the alternate-day supply commitment and the interconnection of water sources to build resilience ahead of any prolonged dry spell. The proposed grey-water reuse regulations, once framed and notified, would mark a significant step toward demand-side water management in Hyderabad's industrial and construction sectors.