Water board gets power shock

Water board gets power shock

Hyderabad: The commissioning of Krishna Drinking Water Supply Project (KDWSP) Phase-3 is going to burden the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewage Board (HMWSSB) by Rs 15 crore per month in the form of additional power charges. HMWSSB is currently paying Rs 30-40 crore to the electricity utilities in the form of electricity charges for pumping water from its sources. An official from revenue wing of the Board informed that the water works had to clear dues to the tune of Rs 231 crore. “With the commissioning of Krishna Phase-3, the electricity bills have increased,” he said. The Krishna project has been under trials for the past few months and the officials of Water Works found that it raised their electricity charges to substantial levels.

The charges have risen to Rs 539 crores in the past financial year from Rs 391 during the financial year 2013-14. The average monthly charges of the Board have increased to Rs 53 crores this year from Rs 32 crores last year. Sources from the board have informed that they are contemplating to seek financial assistance from the state government. “We would be in cash-strapped condition if the billing remains at this stage. The burden of bills would raise more once the Godavari Drinking Water Supply Project (GDWS) Phase-1 begins,” official observed.