SCB told to pay up Rs 22 crore water dues

Hyderabad: Secunderabad Cantonment Board authorities have been warned of no water supply, if they do not clear pending dues of over Rs 22 crore to HMWS&SB.

Every month SCB is paying about Rs 2 crore to HMWS&SB. They owe Rs 22 crore dues to the Water Board. The SCB has been given a deadline of March 31.

HMWS&SB Director Revenue Mr. P.S. Suryanarayana confirmed, “The SCB has been given time till March 31 to clear the dues. The SCB CEO and the Managing Director of HMWS&SB met recently and it was informed that SCB has written to the Ministry of Defence for funds which has been approved. The dues will be cleared by March end.”

With more than 10,000 water connections estimated as illegal in SCB limits, officials are expecting a huge spurt in revenue due to the regularisation initiative. They are also estimating a recurring income of Rs 2 crore every month due to regularisation of water connections.

“SCB is planning to streamline water supply and water bill collections. In order to facilitate people from lower income groups, the minimum amount to be paid for clearing old bills or for regularisation will be lowered in slums if needed,” said an official.