Hyderabad water board deploys volunteers to curb water wastage
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board has decided to involve citizens directly in curbing water wastage by granting app access to trained water volunteers across the city.
Until now, only manager-level officials had access to the ‘Paani App’ to impose penalties. With about 14.48 lakh water connections in the board’s jurisdiction and fewer than 50 managers available for enforcement, officials said citizen participation had become necessary.
10,000 water volunteers to be engaged
The water board plans to utilise the services of around 10,000 water volunteers in the city. Volunteers who notice water being wasted near homes or on roads can take photographs and upload them through the app.
The uploaded data will reach officials directly, enabling immediate penalties to be imposed on the concerned consumer accounts linked to the relevant can numbers.
Penalties range from ₹2,000 to ₹10,000
Consumers found wasting water will be fined between ₹2,000 and ₹10,000, officials said. The system has been designed to ensure swift action without delays or manual intervention.
Volunteer selection and safeguards
Only citizens with a clean record and demonstrated social responsibility will be selected as volunteers. App access will be granted only after OTP verification and credential checks, officials said, to prevent misuse.
Those interested in becoming volunteers will soon be able to apply online. App download access will be provided only after verification.
App access within 15 days
“Preventing drinking water wastage is possible only with citizens’ participation. We are extending ‘Paani App’ access to water volunteers along with board officials. This system will be rolled out to the public within the next 15 days,” said Ashok Reddy, managing director of the water board.
