Hyderabad: Water tanker operators across Greater Hyderabad have called off their strike and agreed to resume supplies with immediate effect following discussions with HYDRAA Commissioner A V Ranganath on Wednesday.
As part of the agreement, operators will source borewell water, with the necessary permissions, exclusively from areas outside the Outer Ring Road (ORR). The decision aims to curb excessive groundwater extraction in densely populated residential localities while ensuring an uninterrupted water supply to businesses and commercial establishments.
The move follows growing complaints from residents that commercial tanker operators have been extracting groundwater through deep borewells and high-powered motors, leaving household borewells depleted.
While domestic borewells are generally drilled to depths of 100 to 300 feet, commercial borewells are reportedly drilled to depths of 1,000 to 1,500 feet to meet the rising demand for tanker water.
Residents' welfare associations have repeatedly raised concerns over alleged illegal groundwater extraction, with protests reported in areas including Tellapur, Suraram and Jeedimetla.
Residents have accused tanker operators of depleting local groundwater reserves to supply water to paying guest (PG) hostels, businesses and commercial establishments in high-demand areas such as Madhapur, Gachibowli, Kukatpally and Ameerpet.
Ranganath said tanker operators had been sourcing water from locations close to areas with high demand to reduce transportation distances and fuel costs, contributing to groundwater depletion in residential neighbourhoods.
He said HYDRAA, in coordination with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) and other departments, would take steps to prevent commercial groundwater extraction in densely populated areas while ensuring that businesses continue to receive water supplies.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between the Water Tankers Association delegation and Ranganath, convened at the request of district in-charge minister Ponnam Prabhakar.
With tanker operators agreeing to resume services, water supplies across Greater Hyderabad are expected to return to normal, while authorities move to regulate commercial groundwater extraction.