The Hindu 22.12.2009
Water Board to regularise illegal connections
J.S. Ifthekhar
| Move aimed at arresting the leakage of revenue and also streamlining the system |
Modalities of scheme to be announced in January
Voluntary disclosure scheme only for two months
Hyderabad: Water consumers have something good to look forward to in the New Year. If they have illegal connections, they can get them regularised. The Hyderabad Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has decided to legalise all such connections to arrest the leakage of revenue and also streamline the system.
Modalities of the scheme are being worked out and it will be announced next month after the Board gives its formal approval. The voluntary disclosure scheme will be for a limited period of two months. Those availing of it have to pay the connection charges and probably water charges for one or two years.
Guidelines soon
“We are in the process of finalising the guidelines,” said K. Ashok Reddy, Executive Director, HMWSSB. The illegal connections are estimated to be more than a lakh - both in the core city area and surrounding municipalities. But the number of such connections is stated to be more in the outskirts.
They are acquired by residents over a period of time in connivance with the Board staff. Especially, when cement roads are being laid, the locals strike a deal with the Board’s lower rung staff and manage to get illegal connections, it is said.
The Board is currently supplying 330 mgd of water, including 100 mgd to the 13 municipalities. On record there are six lakh connections all over the city. Of this, the surrounding municipalities of Rajendernagar, Kapra, Malkajgiri, Alwal, Uppal, Ramchandrapuram, Patancheru, Serlingampally, Qutbullapur, Kukatpally, L.B. Nagar and Gaddinnaram account for 2,77,785 connections.
While the unscrupulous Board employees who provide the illegal connections are collecting the monthly charges and pocketing it, the Board is not getting a single paisa. “By regularising such connections we will not only plug the revenue leakage but also set right the system”, said Mr. Reddy.
