GHMC not paying for water harvesting plan

Corporation has left citizens who participated high and dry

The GHMC has left dozens of families that opted for its scheme to build water harvesting pits in the lurch. It has not reimbursed them 70 per cent of the cost of the pits for a year now.

These families had spent between `9,000 and `11,000 to build the water harvesting pits as part of the GHMC scheme floated in 2015-16. They submitted the bills to the corporation and are still awaiting reimbursement. The scheme was jointly run by the Water Board and the GHMC, and the corporation was supposed to pick up a part of the tab.

Mr K. Yadhaiya of Sainagar Colony in Old Alwal said, “I constructed a 6x4x4-foot water harvesting pit spending close to `5000. As per the agreement, the GHMC was supposed to pay back 70 per cent of the cost as the pit was constructed in my house. On the day of completion in 2015, I got an officer concerned, Mr Kondal Rao, to endorse my documents. Mr Kondal Rao retired but my bills are still not cleared. When I recently approached the Alwal division, official, told me that my documents were missing.”

Experts say Hyderabad’s soil condition does not favour easy construction of water harvesting pits.

The city has a rocky granite subsurface, due to which the water does not penetrate easily. Also, the soil in a particular area is a major criterion.

Despite this, many residents opted to dig the pits. The GHMC had promised to pick up 70 per cent of the cost of building water harvesting pits in homes and 50 per cent for commercial enterprises.

Mr Rama Krishna of Malkajgiri said, “I know of 16 houses in my locality who have not yet received the reimbursement. When we ask the officers, they say they don’t have funds. If they are not paid, residents will lose trust in these schemes.”