No groundwater extraction within ORR, HYDRAA tells tanker operators | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: Private water tanker operators in Hyderabad will now have to source groundwater from areas beyond Outer Ring Road (ORR). The decision came after Hyderabad Disaster Response And Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) met the operators on Wednesday and asked them to curb commercial exploitation of groundwater in densely populated localities within the city.Tanker operators also called off their strike and agreed to resume supplies immediately. As part of the understanding, operators have agreed to draw borewell water only from the Peri-Urban Region (PURE) outside ORR, subject to obtaining the requisite permissions.HYDRAA officials said the move was aimed at reducing pressure on groundwater in residential localities, where commercial extraction has led to domestic borewells drying up.“Hyderabad’s groundwater has fallen drastically. Tanker operators moving their operations away from densely populated areas within ORR would considerably reduce the pressure on domestic borewells in the core city,” said AV Ranganath, commissioner, HYDRAA.According to officials, tanker operators have traditionally preferred drawing points close to high-demand areas to minimise transportation distances and fuel costs. Localities such as Madhapur, Gachibowli, Kukatpally, Ameerpet and Ashok Nagar, which have a large concentration of paying guest (PG) hostels and commercial establishments, have emerged as major water-demand hubs. Consequently, commercial operators have increasingly tapped groundwater sources in and around these neighbourhoods.“Residents and resident welfare associations in several colonies have complained about the alleged illegal extraction of groundwater and the subsequent depletion of domestic borewells. While household borewells are generally drilled to depths of 100 to 300 feet, commercial operators are reportedly drilling borewells to depths of 1,000 to 1,500 feet. This has left residents concerned about their household borewells running dry,” Ranganath said.In Tellapur, hundreds of residents had even taken to the streets demanding an immediate halt to illegal commercial extraction. Similarly, residents from Suraram and Jeedimetla had approached the HYDRAA office in large numbers, seeking intervention to stop commercial water extraction in their neighbourhoods.Responding to these complaints, HYDRAA, in coordination with the revenue, police, municipal and groundwater departments, has initiated enforcement action at select locations.Officials said HYDRAA, along with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) and other departments, would intensify efforts to check large-scale commercial groundwater extraction in densely populated areas within the CURE, particularly in localities witnessing high water demand.
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