Water Board Tightens STP Monitoring, Sets 15-Day Reviews Ahead of March Deadline

Timely completion of sewage treatment plants (STPs) is becoming an important infrastructure requirement as Hyderabad’s residential and commercial development expands across the city. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has stepped up monitoring of ongoing STP works, with MD Ashok Reddy seeking completion within scheduled deadlines and faster progress on delayed projects.

Reddy reviewed the construction of STPs and related infrastructure at a high-level meeting. The review covered the status of individual projects, work progress, pending issues, construction quality and electro-mechanical works.

Officials have been told to set phase-wise targets and completion dates for every STP. A detailed progress report will record the work completed, whether a project is ahead of or behind schedule, reasons for delays, the next steps and revised target dates. Progress will be reviewed once every 15 days based on these reports.

For delayed works, officials have been asked to deploy additional teams, workers, machinery and other resources to bridge the gap. Managers, DGMs and GMs will be responsible for works in their respective areas and have been instructed to monitor projects from the start of construction until completion, rather than limiting their role to inspections and progress photographs.

Daily action plans and stage-wise construction schedules are also to be prepared. Officials have been directed to prevent shortages of labour, construction materials or machinery from holding up works and maintain continuous coordination with contractors.

Engineering officials will strengthen field supervision to ensure that construction meets the prescribed quality standards. Where there are concerns over quality, measurements, measurement books and other technical records should be thoroughly examined.

The Water Board is also focusing on electro-mechanical works at STPs where civil construction is substantially complete. Procurement of machinery, equipment, electrical cables and other materials is to be expedited so these works do not remain pending after civil works.

Reddy called for feasible works to be completed ahead of the March deadline. Water-flow and irrigation-related issues affecting construction are also to be resolved, including coordination with senior irrigation officials for diverting water where required.

The meeting was attended by Operation Director Vasa Satyanarayana, Projects Director B. Mahesh Kumar, CGMs Padmaja and Sujatha, STP division GMs, officials and representatives of construction companies.