The Times of India                17.06.2013

Water Board finally wakes up to rainwater harvesting pits

HYDERABAD: A week after the monsoon hit the city, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) officials woke up from their slumber and are mulling to take up construction of rainwater harvesting (RWH) structures now. Tenders have to be floated and bids have to be finalised.

The Water Board has been facing hurdles to complete its target of 25,000 RWH structures since 2005. It has been getting flak from customers, who had already paid nearly Rs 23 crore for constructing the rainwater harvesting pits. After a gap of seven years, the Water Board had taken the responsibility to complete the structures in 2012, but so far the Green Brigade (GB) teams (contractors) could complete only 4,000 pits.

"We could not reach our target for two reasons. One, property owners are not coming forward to allot space for the pits and the other reason is escalating cost of materials like sand and cement," assistant director, department of Groundwater and in-charge RWHs in HMWS&SB, A Satyanaryana told TOI.

In view of the monsoon, a meeting was held to review the status of RWH structures. "During the meeting, it was decided to invite tenders for completion of 21,000 rainwater harvesting pits. We have instructed general managers to call for tenders next week and take up the works," he said.

The Water Board has also failed to construct 600 RWH structures at 60 water filling stations (10 each) in the twin cities. So far, the Water Board has constructed 350 structures only.

Based on the prevailing market rates in 2005, the Water Board had collected Rs 1,635 per cubic metre, but due to cost escalation, it now shot up to Rs 3,000 per cubic metre. "Customers are not willing to pay the difference, a general manager said.

Water Board's slow progress

Though Water Board had decided to construct 25,000 RWH pits, it could complete only 4,000 since 2005.

It has been getting flak from customers, who had already paid nearly Rs 23 crore for constructing the RWH pits.

Based on the prevailing market rates in 2005, the Water Board had collected Rs 1,635 per cubic metre, but due to cost escalation, it now shot up to Rs 3,000 per cubic metre.