Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad   

Metro water just a call away

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JULY 23. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) is introducing a dial-a-water tanker concept from Monday wherein treated water will be delivered to the doorstep of callers within three hours. By dialling 1916, consumers can avail of the service round-the-clock at the rate of Rs. 250 for 5,000 litres.

"We want to provide reliable, assured quality water. By default, customers are being forced to buy substandard water from private water tankers, which contain fluoride and all kinds of minerals," the HMWSSB Managing Director, B.P. Acharya, said here on Friday. The effort was also to check rampant commercial exploitation of groundwater, particularly in the heart of the city.

Supply to slums to continue

The free supplies would continue to slums and other ill-served areas even as the new service comes into force from Monday.

"In the present system it is difficult for the consumer to get a water tanker even if he is ready to pay. We also want to regularise the private water business with a systematic approach and eliminate all deficiencies in the system," he explained. While the board has 14 tankers of its own, there are 350 registered tankers with it as on date. "We will first utilise the services of these tankers and gradually extend to others," Mr. Acharya said.

Tank owners would be issued coupons of Rs. 100 each for every tanker-load of 5,000 litres and permitted to sell the same at the prescribed rate of Rs. 250 fixed by the board. "This way, it will help both customers and also tanker owners," he said.

On an average, more than 1,000 tanker-loads per day are being supplied in the city and surrounding municipalities while the board's market share is 400 tankers. "We want to expand it and give people good, clean water," he affirmed.

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