For a large number of people living in the twin cities, getting a water connection used to be a Herculean task because of the stringent rules of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB). The water board has now decided to remove the hassles by relaxing certain norms for getting water connection of 15 mm dia size domestic connection.

As per the new policy proposed by the the water board, the applicants for a 15 mm dia size connection can file a copy of the latest electricity bill as residence proof as well as an indemnity bond duly notarised, to the effect that he or she is the owner of the premises but does not possess the title document and that person will not claim the water supply connection so sanctioned as an evidence of ownership in case of title dispute of the premises, if any, in future.

The water board has made it clear that no relaxation would be given for 20 mm dia size and above water connections.

As per the old policy, water board used to insist to submit the registered sale deed, municipal sanction plan, municipal property tax assessment receipt, No Objection Certificate (NoC) wherever applicable, patta or slum certificate (if it is in the slum area), and occupancy certificate issued by Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for sanctioning a new water connection.

The board officials said consumers have been finding difficulty in getting a new connection as per the existing rules, as ownership title deed of the premises was required. Some of the applicants could not file the title document copies for various reasons, they added.

Illegal connections would also be regularised with the above relaxation of documentation. The regularisation charges for 15 mm dia size the service charges would be Rs 300 with normal connection charges only and for unmetered consumption charges for one year, the tariff will be applicable from time to time as penalty.

For BPL slum dwellers, the service charges would be Rs 300 with normal connection charges of Rs 200 only. For unmetered consumption charges for three months, the tariff will be applicable from time to time as penalty. The number of illegal connections are expected to be around one lakh and legal connections are around 8 lakh in Hyderabad.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has constituted the GHMC Town Vending Committee in accordance with the provisions of National Policy on Urban Street Vendors, 2009, said GHMC commissioner, Somesh Kumar.

The committee comprises of 12 government officials, 24 members from associations of street vendors, 12 members from residential welfare associations and community-based organisations and 12 members from other civil society organisations. The committee be in force till March 31, 2014 or further orders, added the commissioner.

Speaking to reporters after the Prajavani programme, he said that a large number of vendors had gathered at the GHMC head office on Monday with a request to register them as licensed vendors. The policy is to protect vendors from harassment, issuing identity cards along with a with few restrictions such as allowing them to sell their products in certain places.

The commissioner is hopeful that the orders issued by the state government recently will definitely help vendors, and the city will also become orderly with space for commuters on roads and footpaths.

On the pending Building Penalisation Scheme (BPS) cases, he said that nearly 4,000 cases are with the GHMC and expressed confidence that they will be settled before December 31. He further said that the House Numbering Cell of the GHMC will be strengthened with 430 polytechnic students taken on internship basis to number the streets by defining the locality later to simplify house numbering in GHMC limits. He said that the process would be completed within 3 to 4 months by taking it on a project mode. 

The commissioner said that the GHMC has identified certain locations where large number of people gather for work or near a hospital. He directed the officials, concerned authorities to take up temporary structures to accommodate people at night in the next 10 to 15 days by erecting temporary night-shelters to protect from chilly weather.

During the Prajavani, as many as 51 grievances pertaining to various subjects were received.