TS govt. says linking Aadhar mandatory under free water scheme

Hyderabad: The Telangana government has announced that all consumers who wish to avail benefits under the free water supply scheme must link their Aadhaar with their consumer's account numbers (CANs).

The government has decided to implement its free water scheme of providing up to 20,000 litres per month to consumers of the Hyderabad metropolitan area. On 8 January the government issued guidelines for the implementation of the scheme.

Under the scheme, 'zero water bill' will be in effect from December 2020 for domestic slum consumers. "These consumers do not need individual water meters. The bill will be accessed through slum docket water meters," the order said. Meanwhile, all domestic consumers shall get water meters installed to avail free water, the government said.

Consumption of up to 20 KL per month, as per meter reading, will be free and consumption above 20 KL will be charged as per applicable tariff with effect from December 2020. For domestic apartments (multi-storied apartment complex) and domestic bulk consumers, the consumption as per meter reading up to 20 KL per flat/house will be free and consumption above 20 KL will be charged as per applicable tariff with effect from December 2020.

The list of agencies involved in the free water scheme will be put up on the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority website.

Customers will be asked to install meters by 31 March 2021 and the scheme will come into effect from April 2021. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) will set up customer relationship management centers for the implementation of the scheme. Since linking Aadhaar with CAN and fixing of meters may take time, the bills will be issued from April 2021.