The New Indian Express 17.07.2009
At last, HMWS&SB has full charge of water supply
HYDERABAD: The Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of water supply for surrounding circles of Greater Hyderabad (erstwhile 12 surrounding municipalities) will be taken over by Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board with immediate effect. Previously, HMWS&SB used to provide bulk supplies to these erstwhile municipalities who in turn would supply water to its customers in an inconsistent manner.
The decision was taken with a view to put an end to the confusion being created on account of dual control of the same system. Besides, fund constraints of the HMWS&SB are addressed by way of single functional control and shared financial responsibilities.
There are about 2 lakh water customers in these 12 circles. The State Government issued orders directing the HMWS&SB to take over the O&M of water supplies.
The HMWS&SB officials informed the Government last month that the GHMC staff who regulate the water supply system should work under the control of HMWSS&B officials for day-to-day operations and maintenance.
The O&M cost of network system and outsourcing staff salaries would be borne by the GHMC for the next two years. Subsequently, the reimbursement will be tapered down by 25 per cent every year for the next three years i.e. 75 per cent for the third year, 50 per cent for the fourth year and 25 per cent for the fifth year.
The maintenance of hand pump borewells, power borewells and charges for water tankers for unserved areas will be under the respective Deputy Commissioners of GHMC for now.
The GHMC will hand over the water supply consumer details after a detailed field verification, to HMWS&SB for developing a revenue billing system data base and start raising demand notices to the customers on provisional/consumption basis.
The Water Board would duly fix meters for each connection and complete the exercise within a period of six months.
The HMWS&SB will furnish the list of beneficiary contribution (30 per cent) proposals for laying water supply lines to GHMC for receipt of the balance 70 per cent share contribution from GHMC. Earlier, individual ULBs used to deposit such balance share amount and GHMC would deposit such ULB share amount to the HMWS&SB for grounding of all such schemes.
The GHMC will furnish the list of colonies where regularisation was done by the planning wing, to the HMWS&SB. The Board will work out the requirement of funds for providing water supply and sewerage for those colonies, such that GHMC will release the money from the funds collected under Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS).
GHMC and HMWS&SB officials will take up a special drive for door-to-door survey to unearth illegal water supply connections and to take steps for regularisation.