Hyderabad: Illegal taps, borewells abound in Talabkatta

Recently, due to an illegally dug borewell at Road no 1 in Talabkatta, the main 4'mm dia water pipeline was damaged and there was no water supply in the area for a week

Hyderabad: Rampant illegal water and borewell connections have turned a bane for the residents in Talabkatta. Officials have closed their eyes to the menace.

Most of the areas in Talabkatta including Nasheman Nagar, Bhavani Nagar and Aman Nagar have several water, sewerage and even bore well connections taken illegally by the locals. "Last week, due to an illegally dug bore well at Road no 1 in Talabkatta, the main 4'mm water pipeline was damaged and there has been no water supply in the area for a week," said Abdul Kaleem, a resident.

When the residents complained about the illegal connections in areas, officials turned a deaf ear, alleged the locals who are made to undergo hardships due to the brazen illegal activity.

"None of the officials from Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) visited and tracked the illegal water and sewerage connections in the area. They don't even take any action against the illegal connections. It's not the first time where the illegal connections were taken by some residents; several connections were taken and during lockdown at least 10 connections took place in the bylines of Talabkatta area, alleged Mohammed Abdul Rahman, a social activist.

Rahman alleged that around 40 per cent of the water connections are illegal in area. He points out that no meter is attached nor any bill is served in such cases. "No official will visit the bylines in the area and take serious action against those going for illegal connections," he added.

When contacted, Talabchanchalam division corporator Nasreen Sultana said helplessly that, "I received several complaints of illegal connections in area and when the complaints were referred to the area officials of HMWSSB they didn't respond and no action was taken."