Manikonda residents face water scarcity, water tanker prices surge to Rs. 1,500 - Rs. 2,000

HYDERABAD: Residents of several areas in Manikonda grappled with severe water scarcity, with some areas experiencing a lack of drinking water for up to four days. Complaints surfaced regarding the unavailability of water tankers despite residents' willingness to pay for the service.

Residents of several colonies, including Pioneer estate, EVV colony, Pasha Colony, Shiva Temple road, Alkapuri Township, and Friends colony in Puppalaguda, faced a dire situation as the water supply was absent for four consecutive days. This scarcity compelled many residents to turn to private water tankers for relief. However, the soaring prices demanded by these tankers only worsened the predicament for the affected residents.

The escalation of water tanker rates and the prolonged water scarcity affected the residents who urged concerned authorities to take immediate action to alleviate their suffering and prevent further exploitation by unauthorised water tanker operators.

Krishna Chaitanya, a resident of Friends Colony in Puppalaguda, said, "We are encountering significant water supply issues in Friends Colony, Puppalaguda. The water tanker services are charging exorbitant fees ranging from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 2,000. We urge the relevant authorities to crack down on the water tanker mafia."

Venkat Mamilla, a resident of Alkapuri Township, said, "The situation has deteriorated rapidly. Just one week of no supply has caused the water tanker rates to skyrocket to Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 2,000. We hope the situation improves within 2-3 days. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) finally commenced distributing water tankers yesterday evening."

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He further added, "Manikonda, Puppalaguda, and Neknampur Panchayats merged to establish Manikonda Municipality. The infrastructure of the Panchayats was evidently insufficient to cope with the rapid urbanisation. Consequently, we have been facing acute water shortages since 2010, along with severe drainage problems. In 2011 and 2017, we endured critical shortages and were forced to pay Rs. 2,000 per tanker. Numerous apartment complexes depend on water tankers throughout the year."

Sainath Gupta, another resident of Pasha Colony, said, "We have been without water in Pasha Colony, Manikonda, for three days now. We have reached out to HMWSSB for assistance, and they have assured us that supplies will be restored shortly."

Ravi Kiran Kosuri, a resident of Manikonda, said, "I booked a water tanker on February 22, 2024, and as of today, my token status is still pending. It's imperative to promptly designate Manikonda as a drought-affected area. Numerous borewells have unexpectedly dried up, causing immense hardship for residents in accessing water. The HMWSSB supply is inadequate, and the wait time for tankers has stretched to three days."

Shaik Arif, General Secretary of Pioneer Estate, said, "The situation in Manikonda is so bad; there has been no drinking water for four days. We residents have booked an HMWSSB tanker, but the authorities are unresponsive and blaming the government for the delay in water supply. We're struggling to secure private water tankers, and they're charging 1500 rupees for 5000 liters. We're unable to control the water tanker mafia."

Sitaram Dhulipala, president of Resident Welfare Association (RWAs) of Manikonda, voiced his concerns, stating, "There is acute scarcity of water in Panchavati colony for the past year. Private tankers are exploiting residents by charging Rs.1,500 to Rs. 2,000 for 5,000 litres, whereas the HMWSSB price is only Rs.500. Despite hefty development charges paid by Panchavati colony, households receive a mere 1,500 litres every 40 minutes. Is this situation unique to Panchavati alone, or does it extend to other parts of Hyderabad?"

He emphasised the need for a thorough investigation by the Chief Vigilance Officer of HMWSSB and urged for a public hearing to grasp the severity of the situation. Dhulipala stressed that this was a man-made problem persisting for a year, citing the discrepancy in water distribution among different divisions. Despite previous complaints falling on deaf ears, he warned of resorting to legal action if the matter was not addressed promptly.

Councilor A Naveen Kumar, representing the 8th Ward in Manikonda, said, "We've received numerous complaints from residents regarding water shortages and irregularities in tanker supply, causing significant hardship. We've engaged with HMWSSB to secure regular water supply and requested immediate testing of the water tanker center near Netaji Park Alkapur Township in Manikonda It's crucial that residents receive water in accordance with the token numbers without delay."

Councilor A Naveen Kumar, representing the 8th Ward in Manikonda

T Spoorthi, Deputy Manager of Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board in Manikonda, said, "Two consecutive shutdowns at Singur have hindered water supply for the past four days. The initial shutdown was due to Southern Power Distribution Company Of Telangana Limited (TSSPDCL), followed by a leakage on the 1200mm dia Singur line, requiring an emergency shutdown. However, Singur water has now reached Khanapur, and we are in the process of restoring supplies. We have already initiated water supply efforts."