Water Board ropes in retired staff for survey

Hyderabad: The Water Board has roped in 150 retired personnel to step up the drive against illegal connections and has also requested the police department to deploy 300 home guards. The police department has however agreed to allot only 30 home guards. As the deputation of home guards seems to be difficult, the HMWSSB planning to request retired Police or Army personnel to support the survey.

Taking an action against the violations, 9 house owners in the city were booked under Section 269,430 of criminal act by HMWSSB. Out of nine houseowners, two house owners from Nagole, two from Musheerabad, four from Secunderabad and one house owner from Uppal was arrested and the notices were served to 4,858 illegal water connections owners.

Two outsourcing linemen were booked for granting illegal water connections in the city without noticing to Water Board. Division 15 Lineman Shareen was working as outsourcing employee in Gachibowli and Division 6 lineman and P Durgaiah was working as regular lineman in Banjara Hills was booked under criminal act for illegally providing water connection to the residents and collected between 8000 to Rs 30,00 to per connection.

Around 150 more teams are to be set up with over 400 personnel to survey 10 lakh domestic water connections and 30,000 commercial connections in the city. The teams has so far covered 30,387 connections of which 29,242 were identified as water connections, 1763 commercial connections, 4858 unauthorized connections and 564 absolute illegal connections.

As per the survey, the Board will get revenue to the tune of Rs 2 cr through one-time connections charges, besides monthly revenue of Rs 15 lakh. The monthly revenue of the Board was about Rs 120 Cr and the expenditure had escalated to Rs 150 crore and the deficit of Rs 30 crore has to be covered. Apart from inspections, the teams will also create awareness among households on water conservation.