Hyderabad, Oct 6 (IANS): Telangana's Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K.T. Rama Rao on Tuesday said that land acquisition for Keshavpuram reservoir is almost completed and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao would lay the foundation for the project shortly.

Acquisition of 1,490 acres for construction of the reservoir is almost done and once the reservoir is constructed there will be no drinking water crisis in Hyderabad till 2050, he said.

The Chief Minister had directed construction of an exclusive reservoir to meet the drinking water requirements of the state capital.

KTR, as the minister is popularly known, reviewed the progress of the project works with Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) officials in Hyderabad.

He directed the officials to intensify efforts to obtain the second phase permissions from the Forest Department. The preliminary permission was already obtained.

The minister stated that it was the Chief Minister's vision to have an exclusive reservoir for Hyderabad and ensure there are no drinking water issues in the city on a long term basis.

He also announced that sewerage treatment capacity will be enhanced in the city. The government was focusing on clean water bodies and zero discharge of waste into the lakes by constructing more Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). Currently about 770 MLD sewage was being treated in the city and this capacity will be increased by additional 1,200 MLD capacity, he said.

"With the current capacity of sewerage treatment, Hyderabad was already in the top position compared to other metro cities in terms of sewerage treatment. Another 200 STPs will be constructed in addition to the existing ones," the minister said.

KTR also instructed the HMWSSB officials to compile a report on the requirement of new STPs as per the Hyderabad master plan and submit the same to the government in a week.