Hyderabad Water Board Imposes Fine For Drinking Water Misuse, As Summer Looms Ahead (image:Pixabay)

Hyderabad, Telangana: Marking second incident in a week, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has imposed fine upon a resident of Journalist Colony for misusing drinking water. A fine amounting Rs. 1000 was charged after an individual was found using drinking water to wash a vehicle. Since authorities are receiving increased complaints about such offenses, inspections have been intensified.

It was during the recent inspection conducted by Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Division-6 General Manager Harishankar and his team found resident named Yarata Shobha, washing her vehicle with drinking water in Journalist Colony. Following, fine was imposed for violating Water Board regulations.

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The HMWSSB issued strict warning against the misuse of potable water, and stressed stern action against violators. The announcement came after a recent case in Jubilee Hills, wherein a resident was fined for washing a motorcycle with drinking water. While on his way from Punjagutta to Jubilee Hills, HMWSSB Managing Director Ashok Reddy located a water leakage near Road No. 78. He was then instructed the area general manager to investigate the issue and during the probe by the O and M Division GM Harishankar and the local manager, they discovered a man using drinking water provided by the Water Board to clean his bike. Subsequently, fine was imposed.

As Water Board has received multiple complaints regarding water wastage across the city, authorities appealed to citizens to avoid using drinking water for non-drinking activities like washing vehicles, gardening, or cleaning residential areas. They have also urged the public to report offences through the customer care helpline or directly to officials, stating that legal action will be taken. However, officials also state that existing fine amount is inadequate to curb the water misuse.

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As summer is approaching, Hyderabad like Bengaluru anticipates acute water shortage. The city is already facing a depletion in groundwater levels, and the request for water tankers has risen in some areas. The authorities are expecting a potential water shortage in the coming two months and have requested residents to use drinking water judiciously. Currently, the HMWSSB supplies 550 million gallons per day (MGD) to over 1.37 million connections within Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits, at a cost of Rs. 48 per kilolitre, said in the press release.