Taps Run Dry, Fines Run High: Hyderabad's Shocking New Reality

Hyderabad is gripped by a serious water shortage, as 70% of the city utilizes groundwater in an unsustainable manner. To combat this, officials are levying harsh fines for misuse of drinking water. Just the other day, a man from Jubilee Hills was charged ₹1,000 for cleaning his bike using drinking water. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) threatens legal action against individuals misusing water for non-priority uses. With groundwater reducing and water tanker demand increasing, officials call for conservation. Unauthorised borewells and over-extraction compound the crisis, with 11 of 16 mandals in Hyderabad "over-exploited." Experts warn that if usage is not checked, there could be a scarcity of water even before summer.

 

Source: The Times of India