Hyderabad: Poor repose to regular water supply connections

Hyderabad: Of the estimated 1.25 lakh consumers found to have illegal water supply connections in Greater Hyderabad limits, only 30,000 consumers have come forward to regularise unauthorised water supply connections under the VDS scheme.

“It is surprising that no one lodged a complaint regarding illegal connections, despite an offer of receiving 25 percent of the fine imposed on the defaulter,” said Mr M. Dana Kishore, managing director of HMWSSB.

Currently, citizens report illegal connections through anonymous calls and loding complaints on the HMWSSB online forum. However, they refuse to disclose their identity. Therefore it becomes difficult for the board to contact the person, even if he is to be rewarded.

Apart from the VDS the Water Board in a bid to track irregularities on its own, had launched a new ‘Operations and maintenance monitoring’ mobile app, Mr Kishore added.

“The Board has provided mobiles with installed app to the linemen, who are suppose to take photographs and share it with managers (engineers), deputy general managers and director for taking prompt action,” he said.

The developments would be regularly monitored in command control and there will be more transparency in the system.” Besides this, the Board has made it mandatory for all 9.1 lakh consumers to install meters. Customers who are installing water meters on their own will be given a discount of five percent on the monthly water bill for a year, he said.