HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has revised the service charges by more than 100 percent on water consumers with immediate effect. Orders to this effect was issued by managing director M Jagadeeshwar of the water board two days ago. The revised service charges will fetch the water board an additional amount of Rs 2-3 crore on monthly basis. At present there are about 8.5 lakh consumers including domestic and commercial consumers.
Based on consumption of water, the service charges have been divided into six different slabs on the basis of billing as against the previous three slab system.
Speaking to Express, HMWS&SB officials said that the service charges were fixed in 2010 and it was decided to enhance the existing service charges in view of the revised tariff. These charges are being collected based on the amount of consumption irrespective of the pipe size or category of water connection.
They said that the service charges were revised under Section 22 of HMWS&SB Act (Act XV) of 1989. The financial status of the water board is in precarious condition, As against the monthly revenue collection of Rs 90-95 crore, the monthly expenditure is about Rs 95-97 crore and the deficit being Rs 3-6 crore, they added.
HMWS&SB is supplying potable water to the inhabitants of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area apart from the bulk supply to surrounding municipal circles and Secunderabad Cantonment Board and nearby villages.