The Hindu 03.05.2013
‘Red notices’ help swell Water Board coffers
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has netted the highest revenue of Rs. 53.7 crore in March this year with 4.03 lakh consumers paying bills. The previous highest collection of Rs. 53.5 crore was in February with 3.81 lakh consumers paying bills. Buoyed by the good showing, the Board has targeted to achieve 4.5 lakh consumers.
The increased revenue is the result of the ‘red notices’ served by the Board under the Revenue Recovery Act to 354 defaulters who owed Rs. 41 lakh. Responding to the notices, 156 consumers paid up Rs. 14 lakh. The remaining cases would be referred to the district Collectors of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy for recovery of dues under the RRA.
Water Board Managing Director J. Syamala Rao, told presspersons here on Thursday that under the Act movable and immovable properties could be attached and disposed of to recover the dues. As part of the drive against illegal connections, the ASCI had done a survey of 20,000 connections in the peripheral municipalities and detected 739 illegal connections. This exercise would be carried out in the core city also, Mr. Rao said.
Precarious position
Mr. Rao admitted to precarious water position with Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs going dry by May 20. He, however, said there was no need to panic since the Board would be able to maintain 300 mgd supply with Krishna and Singur water till the monsoon arrived.
Tanker supply had been streamlined and 80 per cent of the bookings made at the Metro Customer Care centres were being delivered within 24 hours. Water shortage on the city outskirts was due to absence of network.
The Board had prepared a DPR for network improvement in the peripheral areas of GHMC.
Godavari project
Referring to the Godavari project, Mr. Rao said the file concerning the forest clearance for construction of the master balancing reservoir at Ghanpur in Ranga Reddy district was now with the Union Forest Minister. The project would be completed by March next.
HMWSSB nets highest revenue of Rs. 53.7 crore in March this year.
