Hyderabad: HMWSSB readies water tankers, sets up additional filling stations to meet summer demand

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) managing director Ashok Reddy has directed officials to ensure that water tankers are delivered within 24 hours of booking across the city.

To meet the expected surge in demand during peak season, the board is setting up additional filling stations and filling points. The board has authorised officials to hire extra tankers wherever required.

Review of Summer Action Plan

Ashok Reddy reviewed Jalmandali’s Summer Action Plan at the Board’s headquarters in Khairatabad on Tuesday. The meeting was attended by Executive Director Mayank Mittal, Directors, CGMs, GMs, and senior officials.

The MD took stock of the progress of sanctioned works related to drinking water supply, sewerage, recharge pits, de-silting operations, and tanker management.

March 31 deadline for water, sewerage works

The MD said that one CGM has been appointed as nodal officer for each of the 12 circles to closely monitor the implementation of the Summer Action Plan.

He instructed them to prepare clear action plans and ensure that all approved water supply and sewerage works are completed by March 31.

Officials were directed to give priority to quality and safety standards during execution and to promptly clear debris after completion of works.

Road restoration before Monsoon

Referring to road cuts taken up for pipeline works, Ashok Reddy ordered that road restoration works be completed by the last week of April, well before the onset of the monsoon. He stressed that delays in restoration often cause hardship to commuters and should be avoided.

18,000 Recharge Pits in 90 days

To strengthen groundwater levels, the MD set a target of constructing 18,000 recharge pits within 90 days in the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits. Each nodal officer has been instructed to plan for the construction of 2,000 recharge pits and submit proposals for approvals.

He reiterated that recharge pits are mandatory for:

Houses built on 200 square yards, and

Premises above 300 square yards.

He also announced that revenue rules are being amended to make recharge pits compulsory while sanctioning new water connections, to improve groundwater recharge from GHMC areas up to the ORR.

Four-month de-silting drive

The MD directed officials to complete de-silting of all sewerage lines and manholes within four months, without any additional financial burden. A 90-day special drive aimed at long-term solutions has been mandated to be completed by May-end.

Officials informed that since October 2, 2024, continuous de-silting has been carried out across the city. So far, 48,887 locations, 6,285 km of sewer pipelines, and 4.87 lakh manholes have been covered. As a result, daily sewerage complaints have reduced by 20 to 30 per cent.