Recording one of the highest discharges during the season, Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs maintained a combined outflow of nearly 30,000 cusecs on Friday.

Maximum gates were also in operation: 12 gates of the total 15 gates were lifted to a height of nine feet at Osmansagar and nine of the total 17 gates were lifted to a height of five feet at Himayatsagar. The combined discharge till 3.30 p.m. was about 15,000 cusecs. But two hours later, at around 6 p.m., the inflows were a constant 8,000 cusecs and the discharge gradually rose to 10,600 cusecs and 14,400 cusecs respectively. At 8 p.m., inflows at Himayatsagar doubled to 16,500 cusecs and outflows were set to 18,000 cusecs. The reservoirs were near their full tank levels – 1,789.20 versus 1,790 feet at Osmansagar and 1762.95 vs 1,763.50 feet at Himayatsagar.

In wake of the intermittent rains, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board managing director K. Ashok Reddy instructed officials for close monitoring of the catchment area. For the next two day, leaves granted to all staff will be cancelled and officials in the sections of Musi catchment were advised to be vigilant, he said. Officials said residents in the catchment and along the banks were advised safety as the volume of discharge would be increased gradually evening onwards.

In view of the rains, the State government also decided to postpone the scheduled inauguration of Amberpet sewerage treatment plant (STP) by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The other facilities for inauguration include lower capacity STPs Attapur, Mullakatwa Cheruvu, Shivalayanagar, Vennelagadda, and Palapitta, and foundation stone for new STPs.