Water tanker operators in Hyderabad have called off their strike and agreed to resume supplies immediately. The decision comes after complaints that household borewells are drying up in parts of the city. Operators will now source borewell water only from outside the ORR (PURE region), with the necessary permissions.
HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath said the decision followed a meeting with association president Chandrashekar. The meeting took place at the request of Minister Ponnam Prabhakar. The date of the meeting and the start date of the strike were not stated.
Ranganath said commercial borewells, often 1,000 to 1,500 feet deep, are worsening groundwater depletion. Household borewells, in contrast, are usually 100 to 300 feet deep. Residents of Tellapur, Suraram and Jeedimetla had raised complaints about commercial extraction and the drying up of domestic borewells.
HYDRAA will coordinate with HMWSSB, the revenue and police departments, and other agencies to curb illegal groundwater extraction. The agency will also ensure that water supplies to commercial establishments continue.
