Hyderabad: Complaints to the Water Board about polluted water draw a standard response – “the technical team will visit the site in five days.” Now, citizens are asking some pertinent questions: Why does the water board need five days to resolve a matter that concerns a basic need? Are we to drink polluted water until the board fixes the problem? Or, are we to buy water from other sources and still pay a monthly bill to the board? What’s more, many have also complained that their tickets are closed without resolving their grievance.
Monda Market resident Mr. Amarnath lodged a complaint with the HMWSSB redressal team on June 12. “We are getting a supply of water mixed with solid waste and sand. It’s yellowish in colour and unfit for consumption,” he says as he waits for it to be resolved five days later. East Balaji Hills resident Rajanikanth says the supply in his area is only twice or thrice a week and that too at low pressure. “I have complained many times, and brought the matter to the notice of officers and line supervisors, but there has been no response. They just close the ticket,” he says.
Water Board officials say citizens should escalate unresolved complaints to higher authorities. “Complaints on pollution and leakages are dealt with on priority. If pollution level is high, we will supply clean water through tankers; if one is getting grey water through the pipes, we disconnect the line until it is replaced,” said Shankar Lal Yadav, officer on special duty, HMWSSB Consumer Redressal Cell.
