Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Service and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has seized 64 water motors and penalized 84 city residents for illegally attaching motors to water pipelines and causing service disruption.
This is the part of the ‘Motor Free Tap’ initiative launched to ensure the equitable water supply to city dwellers.
Of the total, the highest number of water motors (25) were seized at Operation and Maintenance Division No. 6, Sanathnagar. The Water Board has launched a motor-free tap drive to curb illegal motor use in the city and prevent water wastage.
As part of this drive, mainly in low-pressure areas and colonies where water motors are used a lot, HMWWSB managing director Ashok Reddy, along with vigilance and field staff,f visited Kakatiya Hills in Madhapur and seized illegal water motors.
The MD, who interacted with some apartment dwellers, said that the water board is supplying water to the city citizens from about 150 kilometers through large pumps and heavy pipes, and that they are supplying drinking water by spending up to Rs. 50 to purify it for a thousand liters such water should not be used for washing plants, floors, or vehicles.
Ashok Reddy further said that the Water Board is supplying purified water from distant areas, so instead of wasting water, it should be used only for drinking water needs. He also said that the groundwater in the city is already running low and the demand for tankers has increased in some areas.
He also explained that if water motors are attached to the drinking water pipelines and water is pumped, the remaining consumers are facing problems due to low-pressure water supply. Tankers are being booked due to insufficient water supply, which is increasing the demand for tankers. “That is why the Water Board has begun the special drive,” he added.
The HMWSSB managing director said that the drive would be conducted in all the divisional areas under the jurisdiction of the Water Board, and everyone from the ED Director to the lowest level linemen should participate and seize illegal motors and prevent water wastage.
He said the Water Board is purifying and supplying water from distant areas at great expense. He urged people to use the water only for drinking purposes instead of wasting it.
Metro Customer Center (MCC) is receiving complaints about illegal water pumping. Taking a serious note of the matter, a penalty of Rs 5,000 has been imposed and the seizure of the motor if any individual is caught illegally drawing water during the supply hours, he said.
To preserve water and guarantee equitable supply and use for all customers, he added that infractions can be reported by calling the customer service number 155313, Ashok Reddy added.
