674 tankers in a year: Pragathinagar leads HMWSSB’s AI study

Hyderabad: An Artificial Intelligence (AI) based analysis by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has revealed that Pragathinagar is among the worst-hit localities for water scarcity.

In Pragathi Nagar, Souhiti MK Residency Apartments alone booked as many as 674 water tankers in the past year.

The study highlighted high-demand pockets across the city, prompting the Board to intensify focus on critical areas, especially within the ORR limits.

AI analysis of complaints and supply

The Water Board has begun using AI technology to analyze consumer complaints and tanker bookings.

Over the past year, more than 6.5 lakh complaints were registered at Metro Customer Care (MCC), along with 12 lakh tanker bookings.

AI tools identified problem zones, frequent complaint categories, and the top 10 bulk users of water tankers.

High dependence in elevated areas

The analysis showed that high-altitude and rocky terrain localities, including Pragathinagar, face chronic water shortages due to weak groundwater yield.

Souhiti MK Residency Apartments emerged as the single-largest tanker consumer, with residents relying almost entirely on external supply during peak summer.

MD’s surprise inspection

Taking note of the AI findings, HMWS&SB Managing Director Ashok Reddy made a surprise visit to Pragathinagar.

Locals told him that water supply, which once arrived every 15 days and later improved to weekly, has now dropped to once in two months, forcing households to depend on tankers. They appealed for alternate-day supply to ease the burden.

Rs 3 Cr feeder main project cleared

Officials proposed laying a special feeder main to ensure consistent supply to Pragathinagar at a cost of Rs 3 crore.

The MD approved the proposal immediately and instructed officials to take up the project on priority to provide a permanent solution for residents.

Push for sustainable solutions

During the inspection, Ashok Reddy noticed a defunct borewell inside the apartment premises and advised residents to restore it.

He also recommended constructing injection bores and percolation pits within apartment campuses to recharge groundwater, assuring full technical support from the Water Board.

These measures, he said, would reduce dependence on tanker services during future summers.

Long-term relief plan

Officials explained that the rocky soil structure and depleted aquifers in Pragathinagar make borewell drilling largely ineffective.

With more than 100 apartment complexes lacking percolation pits, the Board emphasized the importance of pipeline augmentation and groundwater recharge to achieve long-term stability in supply.

Senior officials, including CGM Anand Naik, GM Subbarayudu, DGM Chandramohan, and local managers, accompanied the MD during the visit.