Notices slapped over 3,820 illegal water connections

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) identified 3,820 illegal water connections in the span of 3 weeks of door-to-door survey in Hyderabad.

The board has posted notices to the connection holders to regularize the connections in a given period of time and blocked 437 connections permanently. Around 23,956 connections were surveyed by the board in the six divisions. Of it 3,820 connections identified violating the norms of the water board.

Some 669 connections at multi-storied buildings were identified as ground-level connections and 758 connections have only sewage line on their registered Customer Application Number (CAN).

The rest of 23,135 connections were identified as freshwater connections and 1,481 commercial connections were identified as using domestic connections for commercial purpose. Overall, 1,246 connections were identified as using for multi-storied building without regularization.

Along with the water connection survey, the government will undertake new reforms, such as house survey, hundred percent billing collections and to increase revenue. As many as 150 survey teams with 400 staff are expected to complete the work, along with the help of 300 police home guards on deputation to the water board and retired Water Board employees, for further survey.

The board estimates the revenue of Rs 2 cr for the new connections. About Rs 15 lakh could be increased on monthly bills after survey, as the objective of the survey is to reduce non-revenue water (NRW) in the water sector.