HMWSSB will install GPS tags to free tankers

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has managed to arrest irregularities in water supply through free water tankers.Following complaints from residents over diversion of free tankers to different areas, the HMWSSB under a pilot project, installed Global Position System (GPS) tags to its free tankers.

This helped water board in arresting diversion of nearly 600 free tankers trips to other areas in January. Authorities are working on the statistics for February month, said HMWSSB Managing Director M. Dana Kishore.

Generally, HMWSSB operates 920 paid tankers and 328 free tankers for supplying water to different areas in the city. While, the paid tankers are supplied to consumers following bookings, free tankers are supplied to areas, which usually lack sufficient water supply.

Each vehicle



generally operates five to six trips a day and in all about 1500 to 2000 free tankers trips are operated to different areas by HMWSSB. For domestic consumers, the Board charges Rs.400 (including hire charges) for 5000 litres tanker, while it is Rs.515 for non-domestic purpose.

However, there are complaints from residents about unauthorized diversion of water tankers to different areas than to the designated ones.Admitting the malpractices, a senior official said a few water tanker drivers supply the free water tankers to commercial outlets and corporate companies to earn some money.

To curb this menace, HMWSSB installed GPS tags to the free tankers and is tracking the vehicle movement. This has helped in ensuring prompt supply to the needy residents, besides curbing the unauthorized diversions, he added.