The Hindu 01.04.2010
Officials to monitor water supply in curfew areas
J.S. Ifthekhar
CGMs can be contacted on 9032000633 and 9032000568
Linemen, pump operators and others issued curfew passes
Hyderabad: Faced with criticism over poor drinking water supply in the curfew bound old city, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board, has drafted two chief general managers and tasked them with monitoring the supply. They will liaise with the police and send water tankers in the un-served areas.
Vishweshwara Rao will coordinate with the police and ensure proper supply in Division I and II in the old city while Sundar Rami Reddy will take care of water supply in rest of the city. They can be contacted on phone 9032000633 and 9032000568 respectively.
Helpline
Consumers can also call on the Board's helpline 155313 round the clock to lodge their grievances. The Water Board has put on alert all its field staff and asked them to attend to distress calls, if any. During the curfew relaxation period, the Board will supply water through tankers in addition to the normal supplies.
However, Board's Managing Director M. Jagadeeshwar, denied that there was any cut in water supply to the old city. “We are maintaining the regular supply,” he said.
Areas in Division I comprising Bahadurpura, Doodhbowli, Misrigunj, Patherghatti, Moghalpura, Darulshifa, Azampura, Gulzar Houz and Sultan Shahi get 25 mgd water.
There are 48,201 connections here. The Division II spread over Malakpet, Maisaram, Moosarambagh, Aasmangadh, Madannapet, Balapur, Jahanuma, Santoshnagar, Aliabad and Gowlipura gets 49 mgd. It has 77,660 connections.
Strike called off
Meanwhile, the Board has managed to avert a bigger problem arising on account of the Tanker Owners Association decision to go on strike. The association agreed to call off the strike. Though the government enhanced the rate of payment for paid tankers from Rs. 250 to Rs. 325 per trip and from Rs. 140 to Rs. 160 for free tankers, stalemate continued on the question of sharing of the enhanced amount.
After talks the tanker owners agreed to receive Rs. 190 for the payment trip as against Rs. 150 earlier.
