Hyderabad: The severe water scarcity across Greater Hyderabad this summer has led to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) earning an additional ₹20 crore in revenue, even as residents struggled with soaring water costs.
Rising Costs and Tanker Bookings
According to HMWSSB data, citizens spent over ₹40 crore on water tankers during the last three months, booking more than 8 lakh tankers to meet their daily water needs. During the same period, the board generated around ₹20 crore in revenue from tanker operations. Officials noted that this revenue figure was calculated after deducting operational expenses, including driver payments and charges for hired vehicles.
Peak Summer Earnings
The highest earnings were recorded in May, the peak summer month, when the board earned nearly ₹8 crore from tanker services alone. A significant portion of this revenue came from areas along the western and northwestern growth corridors of the city, such as Kukatpally, Durgam Cheruvu, Nizampet, Hafeezpet, Nanakramguda, Narsingi, Kondapur, and Gachibowli. Core city localities like SR Nagar, Ameerpet, and Banjara Hills also contributed substantially to the demand.
Impact on Residents
Residents of several gated communities in the IT corridor were among the worst affected, with many housing societies spending lakhs of rupees on tanker water. This increased expenditure led to a rise in monthly maintenance charges by ₹2,000 to ₹4,000 in several apartment complexes.
Board's Stance on Revenue
Officials clarified that revenue generation from tanker operations was never intended as a source of income for the utility. “The Board engages water tanker trucks on a hire basis mainly during the summer months to cater to consumer demand. The deployment is gradually reduced once the monsoon sets in. This summer, more than 1,200 tankers were deployed to meet the unprecedented demand,” a senior HMWSSB official said.
Persisting Water Stress
Despite a slight easing of temperatures in the last week, dependence on tanker water remains high. HMWSSB continues to receive nearly 15,000 tanker bookings every day, indicating that water stress persists in many parts of the city.
Financial Challenges for HMWSSB
On the other hand, the Water Board is grappling with long-pending dues that have accumulated to nearly ₹3,000 crore across various consumer categories. While the board is expected to generate around ₹150 crore per month through water charges, actual collections are limited to only ₹100 crore to ₹120 crore. Officials say this shortfall has affected the board’s ability to meet operational expenses. Water is supplied to bulk, commercial, industrial, and domestic consumers, but monthly collections from all categories combined remain around ₹100 crore.
