Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) held an important virtual meeting on Sunday. The meeting was led by managing director Ashok Reddy in response to the Meteorological Department’s forecast of heavy rains over the next two days.
Ashok Reddy emphasized that the main priority should be areas where there is a risk of supplying contaminated water due to the rains. He directed officials to ensure that the water supplied from reservoirs contains sufficient chlorine. Flood-prone areas should undergo regular water quality tests, and chlorine tablets should be distributed to residents. If needed, water should be supplied through tankers to ensure safety in these areas.
During the meeting, it was also decided to take extra measures to prevent sewage problems. The Emergency Response Teams (ERT) and Air Tech Mission will focus on areas already identified for water logging. After cleaning manholes, the silt must be removed regularly to avoid further issues. With heavy rain predicted, officials were told to remain vigilant.
In addition to these instructions, the Meteorological Department has asked citizens to prepare for the ‘Soak Pit in Every Home’ initiative starting October 2. As part of this campaign, all homes, especially those on plots larger than 300 square meters, must construct soak pits for rainwater harvesting. Geologists will provide technical assistance to ensure the soak pits are built correctly. Homes without soak pits will not be granted new water connections, according to a senior HMWSSB official.
