The Hyderabad Water Board has started a special drive to encourage people to create rainwater harvesting pits. This initiative is called the ‘Prathi Intlo Inkudu Gunta’ programme, and it was launched by Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar on Wednesday. The programme will last for 90 days and is aimed at reducing water waste and solving long-standing sewage problems in the city.
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has been constructing rainwater harvesting pits in homes built on 300 square yards or more. During this special drive, they will assess the condition of underground drainage pipelines. If necessary, they will upgrade the pipelines, replace old ones, and find permanent solutions for sewage management. Special teams equipped with advanced technology will be working daily, and their activities will be tracked using GPS.
Minister Ponnam Prabhakar emphasized the importance of not wasting rainwater and urged citizens to build pits on their premises. He explained that these pits should be constructed in empty spaces to help avoid water shortages in the future. He also advised people to stop disposing of wastewater into manholes, as it blocks the sewage flow and creates problems for the entire city.
Ashok Reddy, Managing Director of HMWSSB, said that the programme aims to make Hyderabad free from sewage overflows. The focus will be on fixing long-term sewerage issues and making sure more homes have rainwater harvesting pits. He also encouraged people to build boreholes on their property to reduce dependency on water tankers.
A recent survey by the HMWSSB revealed that over 51% of the 25,578 homes surveyed do not have rainwater harvesting pits. Based on this, the board plans to send advisory letters to consumers who rely heavily on water tankers. These letters will recommend building or repairing rainwater pits. The survey also found that many existing pits are either in bad condition or blocked because of parking spaces.
Starting in January 2025, people who do not follow this advice will face double charges for water tankers. The fee will increase from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 for those who fail to construct or repair their rainwater pits.
