Hyderabad: Apartments and independent houses that do not have borewells are installing high-powered motors to draw more drinking water from pipes and storing it in tanks for household use.
The HMWS&SB’s vigilance wing has seized 1,200 such motors in the city so far wherein tap water was being used for washing and bathing purposes.
The pumps of up to 0.5 horse power are available in the market and can be used easily. Unless and until authorities visit every house and check, these practices cannot be detected.
Mr Srinivas Rao, a resident of BJR Nagar, Malkajgiri said, “We get Manjeera water once a week. The neighbours are connecting motor pumps directly to the taps and drawing water. We are forced to face trouble and to fight for water because the tap water pressure drops significantly with pump connected by the neighbour.
“Sattireddy Colony of Malkajgiri is facing scarcity of water and in summer it gets worse. I request the authorities to take necessary action to stop this.”
Ms M. Meenu of Santhinagar, Masab Tank said, “We get very low pressure, the supply is just for namesake. Reports in newspapers state that water is being diverted to VIP areas and to apartments built by powerful builders. Water is grabbed through motors. As honest, tax-paying citizens are we entitled to such injustice? Many have domestic connections but use them for commercial purposes like hotels and hostels.”
Maintenance and operation director of the Water Board, Mr Rameshwar Rao, said, “Even colonies are resorting to this kind of water theft. Their neighbours, who suffer low-pressure supply, also don’t report the same in spite of knowing of such crimes. The motors are mostly connected to half-inch pipes. On supply days the pipe is attached to the tap. When the motor is turned on, it draws double the water while supply to others reduces. People should report this to the Vigilance Wing of the Board or contact the Board on ‘Dial your MD’ at 2344 2881/2/3.”
