Hyderabad: The idea of providing water connection for Rs 1 to residents living in slums has become a boon for the middlemen and a bane for the consumers. Middlemen have been demanding Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 from consumers, especially those from BPL families, who wish to apply for the new water connection.
The problem is severe in peripheral circles, including Quthbullapur, Serilingampally, LB Nagar and other areas that have been merged with GHMC.
After constructing reservoirs in different parts of the city, the Water Board had decided to sanction water connection to BPL families whose income is below Rs 2 lakh a year and are staying less 100 square yard houses for Rs 1 only.
Sensing this as an opportunity, local public representatives and field-level water board staff have set up counters to cash in on the ignorance of people and have been demanding amounts upto Rs 10,000 for tap water connections.
“The BPL families have been depending on water tankers for all these years. During the summer, they spend Rs 4,000 to get water for their domestic needs. So in order to get a tap water connection, they are ready to pay money demanded by middlemen for getting tap water connection quickly,” a source said.
However, the Water Board officials claimed that several complaints had been pouring in regarding this from various parts of the city.
The officials claimed that they had already conducted awareness campaigns and appealed to citizens not to pay additional amounts to middlemen or ground-level staff. If anyone seeks bribe, they said people must complain to general manager in their respective operation and maintenance area.
In the absence of a sale deed, an applicant can submit an affidavit with Rs 20 revenue stamp paper, where layout approval is compulsory. Expenses, including road cutting and other charges, would be borne by the Water Board. The applicant can consult the deputy GM or general manager to understand the process.
