Hyderabad witnessed an unprecedented surge in demand for water tankers, with 15,200 bookings recorded across the city on Saturday alone, underscoring the severity of the groundwater crisis gripping the metropolitan area. The absence of summer showers throughout May has further aggravated the situation.
Record-Breaking Demand
Saturday's figure eclipses the previous daily high of 12,000 bookings, reflecting the escalating water shortage. Over the past four to five days, demand has consistently hovered around 15,000 bookings daily. This translates to approximately one water tanker for every 90 households in Hyderabad.
According to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), residents consumed over 310,000 water tankers during May. To address the rising need, the water board has expanded its infrastructure, increasing filling stations from 86 to 96, filling points from 141 to 167, and operational tankers from 1,135 to 1,250.
Delays and Inconvenience
With monsoon rains yet to arrive and demand continuing to climb, HMWSSB faces mounting pressure to ensure adequate supply and timely delivery. However, the surge has caused significant delays in several localities. Residents in parts of Banjara Hills reported waiting up to five days for booked tankers.
VK Jayaraj, a Banjara Hills resident, shared his ordeal: "I booked a tanker on May 26 but received it only on May 31, after nearly six days. We were forced to hire a private tanker at a higher cost. Since May, tanker deliveries have been delayed regularly, causing severe inconvenience."
Geographical Distribution of Bookings
Officials noted that over 50% of tanker bookings originate from western Hyderabad, particularly Kukatpally, Durgam Cheruvu, Nizampet, Hafeezpet, Nanakramguda, Narsingi, Kondapur, and Gachibowli, along with core areas like SR Nagar, Ameerpet, and Banjara Hills.
Reasons and Response
HMWSSB officials attribute the crisis to critically low groundwater levels and the complete lack of summer showers in May. A senior official stated, "We are delivering 95% of tankers within 24 hours. However, in some cases, consumers do not respond to our calls after tankers are filled and dispatched, while others cancel bookings after receiving drinking water supplies."
The water board continues to monitor the situation and is taking steps to mitigate delays. Residents are urged to cooperate with delivery schedules to ensure efficient distribution.
