HYDERABAD: The state government has asked various departments to clear the water dues of Rs 160 crore to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB).

At a review meeting here on Friday, chief secretary Minnie Mathew asked the officials to find ways to clear the pending water arrears because of the serious financial crisis faced by the Board. "Major departments like home, panchayat raj and rural development, municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD), health, medical and family welfare and A P

Housing Board owe a collective Rs 160 crore to us," HMWS&SB director (technical) D Sunder Rami Reddy told TOI. tnnThe panchayat raj and rural development wing is the top defaulter with Rs 97 crore dues followed by MA&UD with Rs 24 crore dues. Recently, the AP high court issued orders to the HMWS&SB to collect the dues from the government departments following a public interest litigation filed by a city-based NGO.