Tankers exploit agri borewells

Hyderabad: Private tanker suppliers swallow groundwater especially in merged municipalities. Around 42 tankers illegally drawing water from Narsingi were confiscated by the regional mandal revenue officer.

The modus operandi is to take agricultural lands on lease, drill five to six 6-inch borewells, draw water illegally and sell it in the city.

Shamshabad, Shamirpet, Hayatnagar and Narsingi have turned hubs for illegal mining of water. Tankers of 5,000 litre and 25,000 litre capacity make around 250 trips from these areas. In 2014, the city had more than 450 private water traders.

The business of private water is thriving in areas including Kukatpally, Serilingampally, Miyapur, Patancheru, Alwal, Medchal and Saroornagar colonies.

Jaswanth K., a resident of Macha Bolarum, said, “Agricultural borewells are being used for commercial purpose over the last two years near Sanjeeva Reddy function hall beside the samshan ghat at Macha Bolarum. Residents had lodged a similar complaint a year ago. The mandal revenue officer could stop it for a few days but the operators are back now.

There are nearly 3,000 households living in Rukmini Enclave, Royal Enclave, Thirumala Enclave and Sri Ganeshnagar and many borewells have run dry due to which they are purchasing water by paying Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 per tanker.

Rajendranagar MRO Chandra Shekar said the common complaints from the local areas was that mining of water was drying up borewells.