2.5 lakh households await free water scheme as Hyderabad faces supply crunch

Hyderabad: The demand to extend the govt’s flagship scheme of providing 20,000 litres of free water per month to households in newly merged areas under the core urban region has emerged as a major challenge for the Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB).At present, the scheme is being implemented within the erstwhile GHMC limits, benefiting 6.3 lakh domestic consumers. Under the scheme, each eligible household receives up to 20,000 litres of water free every month, with consumers charged only for usage beyond that limit.The challenge has intensified following the recent expansion of the Water Board’s jurisdiction to areas within the ORR limits. Around 2.5 lakh consumers residential colonies in these newly added areas have already applied to avail themselves of the free water benefit.Officials point out that extending the scheme comes at a time when Hyderabad is already facing a widening gap between water demand and supply. While the city’s daily water requirement has touched over 700 MGD, the board is currently able to supply only about 570 MGD.According to senior officials, the extension of the scheme is likely to remain on hold until the completion of the Godavari Phase-II and Phase-III drinking water projects, which are expected to become operational by 2027 and augment Hyderabad’s water supply capacity.