Hyderabad: Resident welfare associations (RWAs) from Hyderabad have called for mandatory rainwater harvesting structures in residential, commercial and institutional buildings, groundwater recharge systems and restoration of lakes to address growing water scarcity.The recommendations were highlighted by the Hyderabad delegation at the 13th National Conference of Resident Welfare Associations, organised by the Confederation of Resident Welfare Associations (CoRWA) in Ernakulam, Kerala, on Saturday.
Five Hyderabad-based groups – Malkajgiri Federation of Resident Welfare Associations, Greater Alwal Allied Service Association (GAASA), Federation of Kukatpally RWAs, Tellapur Neighbourhood Association (TeNA) and Citizens’ Council from Hitec City – participated in the two-day conference held on the theme ‘Role of RWAs in Viksit Bharat 2047’.BT Srinivasan, secretary general of CoRWA, said water scarcity and the possibility of the situation worsening amid El Nino conditions were among the key concerns discussed by the Telangana RWAs. “Water conservation cannot be left to the govt alone. It requires collective responsibility and active participation from every citizen,” he said.The delegation also called for developing recharge pits and percolation wells, protecting lakes and their feeder channels from encroachments and sewage inflow, and reusing treated wastewater for gardening, landscaping and other non-potable purposes. RWAs were urged to conduct water audits, identify leakages and promote responsible consumption among residents.The conference also discussed a series of wider civic-governance recommendations, including setting up quick-response teams (QRTs) in municipal corporations to address complaints such as damaged roads, blocked sewage lines and non-functional streetlights.Other proposals included spending 20% of municipal corporations’ performance grants on priorities identified by RWAs, holding monthly meetings between local administrations and RWAs, and giving RWA representation in local bodies and disaster-management committees. The conference also called for apartment owners’ associations to decide designated feeding points in high-rise buildings, the same agency to handle lift installation and maintenance, and temporary shelters, mobile toilets and drinking water at labour addas in every city.Srinivasan said the conference resolutions would be finalised and taken to the respective states for implementation.
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