SkyscraperCity Forum banner

Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board HMWSSB

168K views 488 replies 25 participants last post by  va20152 
#1 ·
Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board thread
 
#327 ·

HYDERABAD: The cash-strapped Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and sewerage board (HMWS and SB) is devising ingenious ways to generate income. Officials plan to put in place tollgates on the bunds of Osmansagar and Himayathsagar.

A proposal to this effect was made during a high-level meeting held by the municipal administration and urban development (MA and UD) department recently to discuss the measures to be taken to protect the two drinking water sources.

Every day, on an average, hundreds of vehicles from nearby villages ply on the bunds of the two reservoirs. For instance, villagers of Khanapur and Gandipet have been using the 1.7-km bund of the Osmansagar reservoir to reach Chilkur, Moinabad, Vikarabad and Himayathsagar.

"Since decades, the locals have been using the bund as the main road to reach these villages. Though the Water Board has not imposed any restrictions on plying vehicles on the bund, in view of the reservoir structure, the proposal was moved by a high-level committee," HMWS and SB general manager (O and M division-17) D Sridhar Babu told TOI. "We did not conduct any survey on the volume of traffic on the Osmansagar bund, but our estimates are that around 1,000 to 1,500 vehicles ply on it per day. We have twin benefits if the tollgate is put up. We can control the traffic flow on the bund and also generate income," he added.

With regard to Himayathsagar, HMWS and SB deputy general manager Md Jan Shareef said motorists from Rajendranagar were using the 2.5km bund to reach Moinabad, Chilkur, Langer Houz and its surrounding areas.

"As per our findings, the volume of traffic could be around 200 per day," he added.

When contacted, HMWS and SB managing director J Shyamala Rao said,

"We are examining the proposal to put tollgates on the bunds of Osmansagar and Himayathsagar. We are spending Rs 20-30 lakh per month on maintenance of the lakes. We are in no position to bear the maintenance cost as the Water Board is already in a financial crisis."

"The income generated through the tollgates will be spent on the maintenance of the lakes. We are examining the proposal on aspects like fixing the tariff and timing for allowing vehicles on the bunds," the MD added.
 
#328 ·

HYDERABAD: With the chief minister setting a deadline (April, 2014) for the completion of the Godavari drinking water supply project, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has renewed its efforts to get clearance for acquiring 50-acre forest land in Ghanpur in Rangareddy district.

The HMWS&SB has sought 50-acre forest land in Ghanpur village in Shamirpet mandal (RR district) to construct a 150 MLD (million gallons per day) capacity master balancing reservoir (MBR) for the Godavari drinking water project. The state forest department and the ministry of environment & forests (ME&F), southern region, Bangalore, completed inspection of the parcel of land in November last and recommended to the central government for clearance. "The Water Board is closely monitoring the file. When we contacted the officials concerned a couple of days ago, they told us it is pending with Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan. Once the minister clears the file, it will go to the Union cabinet for final approval," HMWS&SB director project, M Satyanarayana told STOI.

Except the MBR, project works are in full swing. "In case, the Union cabinet gives the nod for acquiring the forest land, it will take at least a year to complete the proposed structure," the official replied. "The Water Board has given its consent to part with its own land in lieu of the forest land. The MoE&F, southern region, officials had inspected our land and agreed to take the parcel of land," he added.

The Ghanpur MBR is an important service reservoir for the entire Godavari drinking water project. "Water will be brought to Ghanpur reservoir from Kodandapur by pumping through intermediate pumping stations at Bommakal, Mallaram and Kondapaka. From Ghanpur MBR, water will flow by gravity through two ring mains. Though ring mains, water will be supplied to surrounding GHMC circles, including Qutubullapur, Malkajgiri, Kapra, Alwal, Kukatpally and the Secunderabad Cantonment," the official added.
 
#329 ·

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) will conduct month-end camps in all divisions to collect revenue from defaulters.

Water board managing director J Syamala Rao on Saturday directed officials to conduct camps at the offices of general managers to collect arrears and also fresh bills. "In case, there is no response from the defaulters, the general managers have to disconnect water connections without giving prior notice," he said. The MD also asked the officials to follow-up on customers who were served notices earlier.

Earlier, he received 15 complaints related to billing, low pressure, inadequate water supply, sewerage overflow and water pollution/leakage from Kapra, Marredpally, Malkajgiri, Padmarao Nagar, Gachibowli, Dilsuknagar, Ameerpet and Erragadda areas at 'Dial Your MD' (phone-in) programme at Board Office, Khairatabad.

Another 10 complaints, mainly pertaining to long-pending billing issues, were received at 'Meet Your MD' programme.
 
#330 ·

HYDERABAD: A week after the monsoon hit the city, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) officials woke up from their slumber and are mulling to take up construction of rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures now. Tenders have to be floated and bids have to be finalised.

The Water Board has been facing hurdles to complete its target of 25,000 RWH structures since 2005. It has been getting flak from customers, who had already paid nearly Rs 23 crore for constructing the rainwater harvesting pits. After a gap of seven years, the Water Board had taken the responsibility to complete the structures in 2012, but so far the Green Brigade (GB) teams (contractors) could complete only 4,000 pits.

"We could not reach our target for two reasons. One, property owners are not coming forward to allot space for the pits and the other reason is escalating cost of materials like sand and cement," assistant director, department of Groundwater and in-charge RWHs in HMWS&SB, A Satyanaryana told TOI.

In view of the monsoon, a meeting was held to review the status of RWH structures. "During the meeting, it was decided to invite tenders for completion of 21,000 rainwater harvesting pits. We have instructed general managers to call for tenders next week and take up the works," he said.

The Water Board has also failed to construct 600 RWH structures at 60 water filling stations (10 each) in the twin cities. So far, the Water Board has constructed 350 structures only.

Based on the prevailing market rates in 2005, the Water Board had collected Rs 1,635 per cubic metre, but due to cost escalation, it now shot up to Rs 3,000 per cubic metre. "Customers are not willing to pay the difference, a general manager said.

Water Board's slow progress

Though Water Board had decided to construct 25,000 RWH pits, it could complete only 4,000 since 2005.

It has been getting flak from customers, who had already paid nearly Rs 23 crore for constructing the RWH pits.

Based on the prevailing market rates in 2005, the Water Board had collected Rs 1,635 per cubic metre, but due to cost escalation, it now shot up to Rs 3,000 per cubic metre.
 
#331 ·

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) can now attach and sell movable and immovable assets of chronic defaulters who have not been clearing their water dues for several years, under the Andhra Pradesh Rent and Revenue Sales Act, 1839.

The state government has issued orders delegating powers to the Water Board's general managers to attach and sell assets of defaulters. The revenue department issued two GOs - No 326 and 327- to this effect on Tuesday.

According to the GO Ms No 326, the government has decided to invest the powers of tahsildar under the provision of section 7 of the Andhra Pradesh Rent and Revenue Sales Act, 1839 (RR Act) to the general managers (Engineering) operation and maintenance divisions of the HMWS&SB.

In GO Ms No 327, the government has directed the district collectors of Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy and Medak to order delegation of the powers of the tahsildar under section of 6 of the RR Act, to the GMs and authorise their subordinate officers to issue notices of attachment in their respective jurisdictions. However, the final sale would have to be conducted by the GMs.

The Water Board had moved a proposal seeking the power to attach and sell assets of defaulters to the government (chief commissioner of land administration) five months ago. It is only now that the government gave the green signal.

"The decision will be applicable for around 2,000 defaulters who had received 'Red Notices' for defaulting on dues to the tune of over Rs 20 crore. The Water Board had already slapped 'Red Notices' five months ago, but so far it could not attach movable/immovable assets due to delay in delegation of powers to the GMs," officer-on-special duty (OSD) in RR Act implementation in HMWS&SB E Prabhkar Rao told TOI.

In April, the Water Board had sent a list of 25 defaulters (whose arrears exceeded over Rs 1 lakh) to the collectors of the three districts - Hyderabad (15 defaulters), Ranga Reddy (nine) and Medak (one defaulter) - to implement the RR Act. But even after three months, no collector had registered cases or seized assets of the defaulters.

According to the list, 15 defaulters were found in Asifnagar, Nampally, Khairatabad and Secunderabad mandals in Hyderabad district, nine defaulters in Serilingampally, Balanagar and Qutubullapur mandals in Ranga Reddy district and one defaulter in Jinnaram mandal of Medak district.
 
#332 ·



GO 327 authorises Deputy General Managers of Water Board to attach movable and immovable properties of defaulters and sell them to recover dues

The Water Board, now armed with powers to attach movable and immobile properties, will first zero in on consumers owing more than Rs. 75,000 to it.

There are 800 big defaulters who owe Rs. 70 crore in bills. These are bulk consumers whose connections have been severed for non-payment. “We will target them first,” said J. Syamala Rao, Managing Director, HMWSSB.

The mood in the cash-strapped Water Board is upbeat after the government issued two GOs arming it with powers to recover dues. The GO 326 has delegated Tahsildar’s powers to the Board’s General Managers (Engineering) under the A.P. Rent and Revenue Sales Act, 1839 for recovery of dues.

The GO 327 also authorises Deputy General Managers to attach movable and immovable properties of defaulters and sell them to recover dues. There are nearly 1,800 consumers owing than Rs. 75,000 to the Board, with the total dues coming to Rs. 135 crore.

Thereafter, those owing up to Rs. 50,000 will be targeted. The Board has outstanding dues of nearly Rs. 800 crore. Of this, government departments owe Rs. 160 crore, while there is a dispute over payment of Rs. 100 crore. Nearly Rs. 150 crore is caught in BIFR-referred cases.

“We could only disconnect supply till now, but now we have powers to recover the arrears if necessary through attachment of property,” Mr. Rao added.

Revenue Recovery Act

The Board has decided to invoke the Revenue Recovery Act to realise its arrears. It has already served 300 ‘red notices’ to chronic defaulters, and if they fail to respond, they would be proceeded against under RRA. The matter has been referred to the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA), and the Board is awaiting the government’s nod to go ahead.

However, till then it plans to take the help of Collectors of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts to recover the dues under RRA. The Board has taken recourse to this stern measure in view of its mounting dues. However, even before the Act is imposed in its totality the red notices are proving effective in bringing in revenue.

Meets target

For the first time in its history, the Board is able to cross the barrier of 4 lakh paid CANS (Consumer Account Numbers). In March, a record 4.04 lakh consumers, out of 8 lakh, paid their bills, pushing the Board’s monthly revenue to Rs. 53 crore. The last highest number of consumers who paid bills in a month is 3.82 lakh. The Board aims at netting an average monthly revenue of Rs. 60 crore by raising the number of paid CANS per month to 4.3 lakh.

“Achieving this target will be easy with the recruitment of 90 new managers soon. They have been selected through APPSC,” said Syamala Rao.

The Board has identified 1,632 consumers who owe more than Rs. 1 lakh in arrears. The Board is in the process of compiling a list of 20 such defaulters in each division for forwarding to the District Collectors for recovery of dues under RRA.

Worrying power bill

This apart, the Board is now more worried about its rising power bill. With the latest hike in power tariff, the Board’s power bill is expected to jump from Rs. 34 crore to Rs. 48 crore a month. This figure may go up further when the Board starts pumping water in the days to come as the falling water level in reservoirs makes drawal by gravity impossible. When the power tariff was last revised on December 1, 2011, the Board was paying Rs. 24 crore per month.

Interestingly, the Board itself owes a whopping Rs. 180 crore towards power bill arrears. But right now, it is able to pay only the current month bills. All these issues are proposed to be discussed in the next Board meeting, and they will also be taken up with the Municipal Administration Minister, it is said.
 
#333 ·

Thanks to the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), a World Bank Group, the drinking water woes of four lakh people in Malkajgiri circle will be solved in the next 18 to 24 months. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has invited International Competitive Bidding for implementing the project.

The IBRD has released a loan amount for the drinking water project to the State Government through the Central Government. The project costing Rs 338.54 crore will be implemented with the IBRD grant of Rs 236.98 crore (70 percent), Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) share of Rs 33.85 crore (10 percent) and the government will raise a loan of Rs 67.71 crore (20 percent).

The project is being taken up under the comprehensive water supply services improvements of Andhra Pradesh Municipal Development Project (APMDP). The State government approved the commissioner and director of municipal administration’s (CDMA) proposal for taking up the projects for 13 ULBs including Malkajgiri under APMDP in 2009. Presently, Malkajgiri circle is getting drinking water twice a week.

The ULBs were prioritised for taking up drinking water projects. Out of the 13 ULBs, where drinking water projects were proposed, nine projects were comprehensive proposals including source of augmentation and distribution network in ULBs not covered by Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).
 
#334 ·

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) had commissioned Krishna drinking water supply project Phase-II without the necessary clearances from the Union government in 2007. Apart from this, the Water Board had paid Rs 1.37 crore excess to contractors who executed the Rs 830-crore project.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) exposed these lapses in its latest report tabled in the assembly last week. The CAG also found fault with the tender process for the Krishna Phase-II, audit of which was taken up under 'Social & General Sector'.

The HMWS&SB had commissioned the Krishna Phase-II in 2007-08 to supply 90 million gallons per day (MGD) to the city. However, the national auditor criticized the government stating that without furnishing, supporting details and documents, the drinking water project was commissioned immediately due to precarious water supply situation prevailing in the city.

The state government had commissioned the part of the project in 2007, well before the Union government gave its approval to the 'detailed project report' (DPR). Later, the government, on completion of other miscellaneous and associated ring main works, the drinking water supply scheme was commissioned in November 2008.

"Despite repeated requests from audit and directions from the government during the exit conference held in January 2013, to make the relevant tender files of this scheme available for scrutiny, the Water Board turned a deaf ear. With the limited extracts, including tender committee minutes, assessment of offers, letter of acceptance and forwarding the slips of agreement, made available, the audit believes that the possibility of cartel formation between the three successful groupings cannot be ruled out," the CAG pointed out.

"One bidder (Essar Constructions Limited) who could perhaps have enhanced competitiveness in the bidding process, was technically disqualified, and its financial bids for all four works were, thus not opened," it stated.

"An excess payment of Rs 1.37 crore was made to the contractors due to inclusion of loading charges in carting/excavation rates. The government informed in December 2012 that action would be taken to recover the excess payment from the contractors," the CAG report said.

After finding faults, the CAG has recommended to the government to ensure preparation of DPR with authentic inputs from survey reports and government orders relating to the two-stage tendering process (survey, investigation and execution) should be strictly followed. HMWS&SB managing director J Syamala Rao said: "The Water Board has provided all relevant files, including those pertaining to the tender process and agreements of the Krishna Phase-II, to the CAG authorities at the time of audit."
 
#335 ·

HYDERABAD: Water was hardly ever free but if the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) could have its way, water may soon become the sole property of the rich. Drinking water supply data for April, given out by HMWS&SB in response to an RTI application, shows that the average water supplied per connection was much higher in the well-to-do areas of the city like Gachibowli, Madhapur and Jubilee Hills compared to most other areas.

For instance, an average of 71.22 kilolitres (kl) of water was supplied in summer to the Gachibowli section of division 15 where there are 4,598 connections. Madhapur, which falls in the same division, was supplied an average of 62.6 kl per connection while Banjara Hills and Miyapur were supplied around 50 kl. On the other hand, most areas with middle-income and low-income groups were supplied less than half of what the chart toppers got. The lowest was Gowlipura in Old City which got a meager average of 15 kl of water despite having 7,315 connections.

Though the total amount of water supplied by the Water Board would have been more than what was shown in the figures owing to the board's policy of billing slum consumers for only 15 kl even if the consumption is higher, it still does not explain the disparity. Division 6 has a large number of slum connections (around 15,000, second only to division 3), but still sections in this division, which include Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills and Somajiguda, received more water than most other areas in April.

M Srinivas of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), whose fellow party worker filed the RTI application, alleged that even slum dwellers are being hoodwinked by the board. "Though the Water Board claims to bill slum consumers only for 15 kl, many slum dwellers pay more even if they have not been supplied that amount of water," he said.

"Division 6 also had the maximum number of paid water tankers, which was higher than the number of free tankers sent out to the entire city during peak summer. Only the rich people who can pay can avail drinking water in the city," he added.
 
#336 ·

HYDERABAD: The city has received 193 mm (19.3 cm) rainfall since June 1, more than double the normal rainfall for this time of the year, but alarmingly there are no fresh inflows into drinking water sources. Reason: encroachments in catchment areas and flouting of building rules in upstream areas.

According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) sources, the city had received 193 mm (19.3 cm) rainfall between June 1 and 26. "We have received 109 mm excess rainfall," the sources added.

"Though rainfall was reported in our jurisdiction, there is no difference in water levels at both Himayathsagar and Osmansagar," HMWS&SB deputy general manager and in-charge of Himayathsagar reservoir said.

The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) had found gross negligence on the part of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) in its recent report.

In the report, the NEERI recommended demarcation of boundaries of prime water sources- Osamansagar and Himayathsagar-and stopping encroachments. It also recommended preparing strategies to preserve the catchment areas of the lakes. Though the report was submitted some time ago, the water board has failed to implement even simple recommendations.

Water board officials now fear there could be major drinking water scarcity from July-end onwards in the city. "Despite poor water levels, we were able to manage water problem this summer. Despite rainfall reported in the catchment areas, there have been no significant inflows in the reservoir levels," HMWS&SB managing director J Syamala Rao told TOI.

Presently, the water board has been supplying 315 of 340 million gallons per day (MGD) to Greater Hyderabad. "We will cut another 15 MGD of water to the city from July 15 in case there is no improvement in the water levels," deputy general manager said.

When contacted, HMWS&SB director (operations), P Manohar Babu said, "There were no fresh inflows into Singur and Manjira reservoirs too. We are closely monitoring water levels at our drinking water sources."
 
#337 ·

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has bagged the state government’s Platinum Award for the project automation of water tanker service.

The state government selected the project as best e-Goveranace initiative for year 2012-13. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.

In connection with the commemoration of two crore Mee Seva transactions, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will present the award to HMWS&SB managing director J Syamala Rao at a function to be held at Ravindra Bharathi here on July 1.

The automation of the water tanker service to consumers has led to introduction of IVRS and online registration of services on HMWW&SB website and Facebook, facilitating quick registration of service requests and reducing the booking time from 10 to 30 minutes to less than a minute.

Booking through IVRS and confirmation of delivery through secret PIN ensured that tankers are delivered to genuine consumers. The ‘First come, first served’ principle implemented through integration of IVRS complaint booking with gate pass generation, ensures effective resolution and efficiency of delivery of tankers has increased from 30 to 75 per cent.

The electronic point of sale (EPOS) hand-held terminals and radio frequency identification (RFID) smart card system provided a mechanism to track the number of trips made by tankers and the quantity of water drawn from filling stations to ensure water audit and reduction of unaccounted for water (UFW) at filling stations.

Smart card-based payments, integrated with the cash counter system, ensured that payments are accounted for and real-time revenue reconciliation.
 
#338 ·

The state government on Saturday accorded sanction to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) for implementation of supply, installation and commissioning of 1,318 automatic meter reading (AMR) meters and five years on-site annual maintenance of clear water meters costing Rs 12.58 cr.

It wanted the board to initiate steps for Unaccounted for Water (UFW) process to account for at least 40 million gallons per day (MGD) in the first year.

The board submitted the proposals for AMR metering system for 1,318 bulk connections, including Single Window Cell, which has collected towards AMR meter charges from 435 applicants for an amount of Rs 2.57 cr and 883 bulk connections are consuming more than 90 percent of bulk requirement ie 32.49 MGD out of 35.90 MGD. The AMR meters with GSM technology will read remote meter reading through VPN-based GPRS technology and meter data directly sent to HMWS&SB’s server for bulk consumers.
 
#339 ·

HYDERABAD: Over 1,500 property owners waiting for domestic water connections may soon get relief as the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has decided to sanction new connections within 30 days.

Though the 30-day connection norm was mentioned in the citizen's charter, it was not implemented due to various reasons. According to the latest decision taken by the board, managers and deputy general managers have been authorized to sanction half-inch, three-fourth and one-inch water connections. "We can reduce pendency with the latest decision," HMWS&SB single window cell (SWC) general manager, P Ravi Kumar told TOI.

However, the applicants have to apply for water connections online only after paying fee either through the Water Board portal or Mee Seva centres.
 
#340 ·

To avoid delays in giving new water connections to consumers, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has proposed to delegate powers of sanctioning new tap connections to Deputy General Managers (DGMs).

The proposal to delegate the powers was mooted by Managing Director J Syamala Rao during a review meeting with senior officials of the Water Board a few days ago. The DGM would be empowered to sanction half inch (15 mm diameter) water connections. Earlier, the power to sanction half inch connections was vested with General Managers (O&M) of the respective divisions.

As per the Citizens Charter of HMWS&SB, it has to sanction new water supply connections/sewerage connections and enhancement of size of existing connections with 30-45 days. But the same is not being implemented by officials concerned due to various reasons and it was taking two months or even more resulting in hardships to the people.

In connection with the sanction of water connections by the Single Window Cell (SWC), the Managing Director expressed dissatisfaction over the slackness of officials. He felt despite repeated instructions to follow correct procedures, the staff were indifferent in processing files. The SWC is said to be sanctioning connections out of the way, causing inconvenience to the public.

Unhappy with the functioning of the SWC, the MD directed the officials concerned to submit detailed reports relating to all the data of pending process of SWC files till date.
 
#341 ·

HYDERABAD: As water levels dipped at the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has decided to divert Krishna water to the Old City during Ramzan.

The Water Board has been supplying 22 million gallons per day (MGD) to areas covered under division-I (Goshamahal) from Himayatsagar. In view of Ramzan, another two to three MGD of water from Krishna Phase-I would be diverted to these areas. Similarly, the Water Board has been supplying 40 MGD to areas in division-II and another 20 MGD in division III and IV areas. "The water supply to divisions II, III and IV is sufficient. We are supplying extra to division-I because most of the areas in the Old City fall in this division. We will send tankers to ill-served areas and mosques," a senior HMWS&SB official told TOI. "We will take measures to ensure water supply is not affected to other areas. This arrangement will continue till Ramzan ends," he added.

So far, the HMWS&SB has received 25 petitions from mosques in the city for water tankers. (There are over 5,000 major and small mosques in the city). Already, instructions have been sent to general managers to arrange water tankers to mosques on top priority that too free of cost. Also, the water board has put a tanker exclusively at the disposal of Mecca Masjid.

"We will accept pleas through water board's metro customer care (MCC): 155313. The message will be forwarded to general managers concerned for the necessary action," the official replied.
 
#342 ·



The Water Board is considering options such as cuts to bulk consumers outside the GHMC area and rescheduling of supply timings to deal with water crisis during Ramzan and Bonalu

To cut or not to cut. The Water Board is faced with a Hamletian dilemma.

With Ramzan and Bonalu starting the situation is dicey. Though officials put up a brave face, they admit privately that things are really “critical”. Both the festivals are going to put heavy demand on water, which is in short supply.

The downpour in the last two days has brought in half a tmc water in Singur-Manjeera and some inflows in Osmansagar and Himayatsagar, but there is nothing to cheer about.

As it is, there is a shortfall of 23 million gallons of water a day (MGD), with the city’s principal reservoirs going almost dry. As against the normal supply of 340 MGD, Hyderabadis are now getting just 317 MGD.

The Board is contemplating imposing a further cut of 5 MGD to cope with the critical situation.

It is considering various options, including cuts to bulk consumers like industries outside the GHMC area. Another option before the Board is to go for rescheduling of supply timings.

Water Board Managing Director J. Syamala Rao has asked officials to come out with strategies to tide over the situation, which has worsened with practically no inflows into the reservoirs. During the last one month after monsoon set in, the inflows into the reservoirs have been negligible.

“We might have gained just four to five days of water and nothing much,” an official said.

The authorities are wary of curtailing supplies during Ramzan when demand for water goes up. In fact, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has asked the Board to ensure uninterrupted water supply from 6 a.m to 6 p.m everyday and from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Eid.

The Board has also been directed to press into service 300 additional tankers during the festive month. Incidentally, this has put the Board in a piquant situation.

“There will be no further cuts during Ramzan. The same quantum of water will be supplied,” said D. Sunder Ram Reddy, CGM (Transmission).

Presently, the Board is drawing 10 MGD each from Osmansagar and Himayatsagar, but after treatment this quantum comes down to 9 MGD and 8 MGD, respectively. The levels in Singur and Manjeera have also plummeted.

Nevertheless, the authorities continue to draw 120 MGD using 17 emergency pumps. The water level at Singur is 4 TMC, and it will last till August end, officials maintained. But, they are worried about the accumulated silt, which reduces the available water by nearly 2 TMC.
 
#343 ·

HYDERABAD: For the proposed tree felling on 50-acre forest land in Ghanpur in Rangareddy district, the forest department has issued demand notices to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) to pay Rs 2.66 crore for the loss of green cover.

The Water Board had approached the forest department to allot 50-acre land for construction of a mega balancing reservoir (MBR) in Ghanpur and also lay pipelines in Karimanagar and Medak districts for the Godavari drinking water supply project.

"After Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan cleared the file pertaining to the forest land, the forest department officials estimated the cost of the trees likely to be axed in the three districts. The forest officials sent notices to pay Rs 2.66 crore," HMWS&SB managing director J Shyamla Rao told STOI. Accordingly, the Water Board has issued orders to the Karimnagar, Medak and Rangareddy district collectors to pay the amount to local forest officials as per the demand notice issued by the forest department, he said.

"We require around 0.8 km length of forest land in Karimnagar district, another 12 km in Medak district and remaining 38 acre land in Ghanpur. The proposal of handing over forest land has been cleared. We are expecting physical possession of the land by July-end," he added.

"In lieu of the Ghanpur land, the Water Board will plant saplings at our 50-acre land in Murmur village in Karimnagar district, which we will hand over to the forest department," HMWS&SB director-projects M Satyanarayana said.

In view of delay in forest land clearance, the Water Board has proposed to construct a three million litre (ML) capacity mini cistern in Ghanpur. As the MBR might take at least one-and-half-year for completion, it will build a mini cistern. The Water Board consulted Mumbai-based Tata Consulting Engineers (TCE) for the problem and they suggested five methods. We have chosen the cistern method, Satyanarayana added.

The Water Board would spend Rs 1.17 crore for the construction of the mini cistern and hopes to complete it in five months. "Water Board will use the alternate facility for the supply of Godavari water to the city till the completion of the MBR," he said. Later, the cistern would be used to supply water to the surrounding villages.

Meanwhile, the Godavari drinking water project works were progressing at a brisk pace, the official said. "So far, the Water Board has completed 137 km of 186-km pipeline. Other works like construction of service reservoirs, sub-stations and installation of transformers are in full swing. The Water Board aims to supply 172 MGD of Godavari water to the city by April 2014," the director-projects added.
 
#344 ·

Water consumers in Greater Hyderabad may have to brace themselves for severe shortage of drinking water as the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) proposes to cut drinking water supplies further up to 10 million gallons per day (MGD) this week or the next.

Though monsoon arrived a month ago and heavy to moderate rains struck the city and its surrounding areas in the last few days, the water levels in the five major reservoirs _ Osmansagar, Himayatsagar, Singur, Manjira and Akkampally (Krishna) _ have not gone up and are still alarmingly low.

Senior officials of the water board, on reviewing the water levels in the five reservoirs, felt that a further cut in water supplies would be unavaoidable. As against the normal supply of 340 MGD of water to Greater Hyderabad, the board is able to supply just up to 300 MGD. Now, this supply will be slashed by another 5 MGD to 10 MGD.

The total demand in Greater Hyderabad is about 480 MGD per day.

“We have no alternative but to cut water supplies in view of insufficient rains in catchment areas in the last one month,” senior HMWS&SB officials told Express. The impact of cut in supplies will be on bulk consumers and efforts will be made to see that domestic consumers are spared from the water cuts,” they added.

‘’we are in the middle of the monsoon season and Osmansagar lake is on the verge of drying up.

As against the 3,900 tmcft of storage capacity at the full reservoir level, the present level is about 0.047 tmcft. Last year the same day it was 0.758.
 
#345 ·

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has proposed rationalisation of dockets having more than 1,500 Consumer Account Numbers (CANs) in all the divisions.

In as many as 130 to 140 dockets, there are more than 1,500 CANs. In some case the dockets have more than 3,800 CANs but in majority of the cases the dockets have between 2,200 and 2,800 CANs. due to the large number of CANs, meter readers are not properly collecting the water bills resulting in losses and arrears.

In order to improve the revenues of the water board and to have better control on the docket area to the meter readers, HMWS&SB has proposed to rationalise the dockets with size limiting to 1,500 CANs per docket. As per the HMWS&SB records, it was discovered that over 130 dockets have CANs in excess of 1,500.

HMWS&SB managing director J Syamala Rao during a review meeting held recently directed the chief general manager (revenue) instructed to conduct a review meeting with the manager, ZIs, meter readers and rationalise the dockets with size being limited to 1,500 CANs through the meeting.

Whereas the general manager (IT) has been instructed to make software changes after rationalisation of the dockets and issue billing data meters readers as per the rationalised data.

Certain outsourcing billing and collection agencies representatives complained that local leaders are not allowing them to issue bills at door steps in some areas.

The agencies have been issuing bills and collecting at community halls among other places on a notified day of collection to which the managing director instructed the agencies to stop issuing bills at one place.

He instructed them to visit each and every house to check the meter reading for issuing of bills and collection as per the agreement condition. The managing director instructed the general manger (IT) to generate reports on illegal connections detected by the agencies, category conversions, oversize connections in order to initiate necessary action against offenders.
 
#346 ·

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) will provide 'automatic meter reading' (AMR) meters to 1,318 bulk connections (non-domestic) by the end of August.

The Water Board has already communicated to Pune-basedChetas Control Systems Private Limited to supply the AMRs and fix them by the end of next month. "The Board will assess water quantity from September 1 and issue bills", a senior HMWSSB official told TOI.

Water Board officials had conducted a demonstration of an AMR meter at its office at Khairatabad on July 19 and were satisfied with its functioning. The Board aims to keep a record of water supplied to bulk consumers by fixing the AMR meters. The AMR runs on 'virtual private network' (VPN) based on 'general packet radio system' (GPRS) technology.

A mini-control room would be set up by the Pune-based firm at the Khairatabad head office to receive data from AMR meters. For this, the firm would develop a separate software. However, the firm has to supply, install, commission and undertake annual maintenance for a period of five years, the official added.

On June 29, the government had issued a GO (Rt No: 1018) sanctioning Rs 12.58 crore to install clear water meters to bulk consumers. The central government has released Rs 4.43 crore, while another Rs 2.57 crore was collected by the Water Board from 435 applicants towards AMR charges and the remaining amount would be borne by the Board from its own funds.

The municipal administration & urban development department has fixed the responsibility on the Board to initiate the 'unaccounted for water' (UFW) process to account for at least 40 million gallons per day (MGD) in the first year after launching the AMR metering system. "After observing the AMR system for a year, we may extend it to domestic consumers as well," the official replied.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top