Hyderabad: Firm action sought against water theft

Hyderabad: The Water Board plans to initiate departmental action against circle managers if unauthorised connections are found in their jurisdiction from September 15.

After lodging complaints with the police and registering cases against customers for obtaining unauthorised connections, the Water Board is intensifying checks to detect such connections.

Instructions have been issued to officials, especially those in the operations and maintenance wing, to check the authenticity of connections by the third week of September. Focus will be laid on those using the water for commercial purposes after obtaining domestic connections.

“After September 15, if any unauthorised connection is detected during the vigilance raids, departmental action will be initiated against the respective circle managers,” a senior board official said. Cases will be registered against officials and personnel if they are involved in issuing unauthorised connections, he warned.

Instructions were issued to circle managers to focus on areas where complaints are lodged frequently by customers. Regular field inspections should be conducted and permanent solutions should be worked out, he said.