Water meter revamp a no-show

HYDERABAD: A study by Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&B) officials on revamping the metering system is gathering dust.
In order to improve revenue by fixing water meters and reduction of 'non-revenue water', the HMWS&SB had sent a four-member team to Bengaluru in October to conduct a study on the implementation of metering system by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWS&SB).
The BWS&SB supplies 308 million gallons of water per day (MGD) to 9.19 lakh connections (consumers). The HMWS&SB supplies 358 MGD of water to 8.90 lakh customers. The BWS&SB has provided meters to all its customers, including those residing in slums. However, HMWS&SB records reveal that of 8.90 lakh connections, only 2.80 connections (just one-third) have meters. “The BWS&SB had fixed water meters at their own cost, but costs, including meter cost and maintenance charges, were being recovered from the consumers in their monthly bills. We have recommended to implement the same system in Hyderabad too. The cost was also worked out at Rs 300 crore for the project,“ HMWS&SB chief general manager (Revenue) S Anand Swaroop told TOI.
He also said in the city they had no technology to track whether meters were functioning. The HMWS&SB has to collect Rs 600 crore arrears from government and consumers.