FGG appeals to CM Revanth for action on unpaid Water Board dues by govt departments

Forum for Good Governance (FGG) has requested the Chief minister A Revanth Reddy to direct various departments to clear over Rs. 2,000 crore in pending dues to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB). A letter from FGG president M Padmanabha Reddy highlights non-payment by several state and central departments.

Hyderabad: Forum for Good Governance (FGG) has requested the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to issue directions to different departments for clearing pending dues payable to HMWSSB.

The Water Board informed that Rs.1,764.18 crores dues are pending from various State departments and an amount of Rs. 250.23 crore is due from Central Government organizations and public sector units. In some departments, residences of officers and staff have also defaulted on water charges, FGG president M Padmanabha Reddy said in a letter to the Chief Minister on Tuesday.

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He listed out the dues payable by different departments, including Education department (Rs.19.02 crores), Health Medical & Family Welfare department (Rs. 109.69 crores), Home department (Rs. 40.86 crores), Housing department (Rs.57.55 crores), Industries & Commerce department (Rs.24.96 crores). MA&UD department (Rs. 33.05 crores), Mission Bhagiratha (Rs.1,011.30 crores) PR&RD department (Rs.377.29 crores) and Transport, R&B department ( Rs.17.71 crores).

“The main source of revenue to the Water Board is from water charges. If the payments are not made for the supply of water, the Board will face financial problems with the result the quality of service will be affected,” Padmanabha Reddy said.

The irony was that the citizens were paying water and drainage tax to GHMC and HMWSSB for single service, whereas the government offices and residential quarters of employees of some departments were not paying the water and drainage charges for many years, he added.