Water tanker demand surges in Hyderabad’s CMC areas amid summer

Water tanker demand has surged across Cyberabad areas due to summer heat, with bookings rising sharply. Authorities plan to increase filling stations, while consumers have raised concerns over high prices and poor quality water supplied by private tanker operators

Hyderabad: The summer demand for water tankers in Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) has shot up, with the areas of Gachibowli, Madhapur, Nizampet, Durgam Cheruvu, Hafeezpet, Manikonda and Kukatpally topping the tanker booking list.

Experiencing high demand for water tankers within CMC limits, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) is planning to increase the number of filling stations to address the requirement. Water board officials said efforts are on to improve tanker availability and streamline water distribution in these high-demand areas.

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The bookings started to rise from February itself and over 5 lakh consumers registered with the water board have been getting tanker supplies. “For this, 500 tankers are plying and meeting the increased demand,” said M Santosh, HMWSSB Executive Director for Cyberabad Municipal Corporation.

The daily tanker bookings went up from the usual 2,000 to 3,000 to between 7,000 and 10,000 per day in the summer season. Around 35 filling stations are operational day and night and a proposal is under consideration to open another 10 filling stations, he said. Also, in areas with a high number of tanker bookings, officials are contemplating encouraging the rainwater harvesting pits concept to reduce dependency on tankers.

Meanwhile, consumers complained about private tanker operators fleecing them with abnormal charges. Consumers said the rates being demanded are excessive and called for action to address the pricing practices of tanker operators, apart from raising questions on water quality.

“Taking advantage of summer and high demand, hundreds of private tankers are delivering unpurified water, which poses a high risk to the health of consumers, mainly MNCs, hostels and other private institutions,” a consumer said.