HYDERABAD: Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) will continue to accept applications from eligible beneficiaries for supply of 20 KL free drinking water throughout the year.
Previously, the cut off date to apply for supply of this water was August 15. But the board has now decided to accept applications for free water from eligible people throughout the year.
As per GO No. 211 of December 2, 2020, all domestic-slum, domestic-individual, domestic-multi-storeyed building people are eligible for 20 KL free water supply once they link their customer account numbers (CAN) with their Aadhaar cards. After issue of this GO, domestic slum consumers have not been receiving any water bills. The water consumption is being assessed through slum docket water meters.
Individual domestic consumers had to, however, get water meters installed to avail the free water scheme. Consumption above 20-KL threshold is being charged as per applicable tariff with effect from December 2020. For apartment buildings and bulk consumers, consumption is being measured for individual flats or houses.
As many as 7.87 lakh individual domestic consumers had to fix 2.20 lakh water meters. 24,967 domestic apartments and bulk connections had to fix 17,192 meters. However, very few consumers have installed water meters till date.
A senior HMWSSB official said earlier, August 15 had been stipulated as cut off date to encourage eligible consumers to fix water meters and link their Aadhaar cards with their CAN number. But the board has now decided to consider applications even if they are filed after the due date. “Issue of 20 KL free drinking water supply will be a continuous process,” the official stated.
He informed that there is an online mobile application “HMWSSB 20KL Free Water Registration” for Aadhaar linkage. It can be downloaded from Google Play Store. The name on Aadhaar card and water bill must be the same for individual houses and domestic slum houses. For buildings managed by societies and Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), consumers can procure a letter from their society or RWA authorising registration of Aadhaar number against their CAN to avail the scheme, the official added.
