For the first time in its history, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) invoked the Revenue Recovery Act on Friday to confiscate moveable assets worth Rs 1.47 lakh in a building (1-7-1069) at RTC Crossroads which falls in the board’s O&M Narayanaguda division.

The action followed failure by the occupants of the building, despite having been served disconnection and red notices and also Form-I for seizure of assets, to clear the water bill dues. Assets of near- value equal to the dues were seized in the presence of director (revenue) PS Suryanarayana, chief general manager (engg) of revenue circle A Krishna, general manager (engg) of O&M division No. V  Narayanaguda Y Hanumanth Rao and officials of the vigilance wing.

The board has so far issued 199 Form-I notices consumers who have defaulted on payment and a similar action will be taken in all those cases. Managing director J Syamala Rao warned that the board would not remain lenient to holders of illegal connections.