Hyderabad: 19 December Posted on 12:23 AM IST
Hyderabad water board officials have registered criminal cases against illegal water connection holders and a private septic tanker operator after separate enforcement actions aimed at protecting drinking water sources. Acting on the directions of HMWSSB Managing Director Ashok Reddy, the Vigilance wing cracked down on illegal tap connections in the Red Hills low-level section under O and M Division No. 4. The action followed road works taken up by GHMC in the Seetharam Bagh area.
Officials found that nine houses with approved connections had drawn a total of 15 illegal water tap connections without permission. Vigilance teams removed the illegal connections and registered criminal cases against all nine individuals. Water board officials warned that any unauthorized drinking water or sewerage connections will invite criminal action. The board urged residents to report illegal connections to the Vigilance wing at 9989998100 or 9989987135.
Criminal Case Filed After Septic Tanker Caught Dumping Waste Near Osman Sagar
In a separate incident, HMWSSB officials caught a private septic tanker attempting to dump septic waste into the Osman Sagar reservoir at Gandipet, the main drinking water source for Hyderabad. According to Ashok Reddy MD Water Board, the incident occurred on December 17, 2025, at around 8 am near Himayat Nagar village at FTL point number 428. The tanker bearing registration number TG11 T1833 was intercepted during patrol.
During questioning, the driver Ramavath Shiva Naik (33), admitted that he acted on the instructions of Niranjan, a resident of Himayat Nagar. A criminal case was registered at Moinabad police station against those involved.
The water board identified three serious violations.
The tanker used the HMWSSB logo without authorisation to mislead the public and inspection teams.
The vehicle was not registered with the board.Dumping waste in a protected reservoir posed a direct risk to public health and drinking water safety.
Responding to social media claims about sewage mixing in Osman Sagar, the water board clarified that no contamination occurred. Officials said the intercepted tanker was stopped before any discharge.
The Managing Director said drinking water supplied from Osman Sagar meets Indian Standard IS 10500-2012 norms. Water undergoes a three-stage chlorination process at treatment plants, main balancing reservoirs, and service reservoirs. Officials ensure a chlorine level of 0.5 ppm in supplied water.
Water from Gandipet is routed to Asif Nagar and Mir Alam water treatment plants, where quality tests take place every hour.
The board added that sewage inflow from nearby areas is being addressed through the construction of sewage treatment plants on both sides of the reservoir. These plants are scheduled for completion within six months and will enable full treatment of wastewater from surrounding zones.
Ashok Reddy said the board will not tolerate any act that pollutes drinking water sources. He said surveillance around reservoirs will increase to prevent repeat incidents. Residents who notice illegal dumping near water bodies were asked to alert local officials or contact the HMWSSB customer care number 155313 immediately.
Mohammed Naseer Giyas is a multi-media and bilingual journalist with over 20 years of experience across print, digital, and television media. Founder of Raftaar-e-Deccan, he is an alumnus of IVLP, Thomson Reuters Foundation, and ICFJ, and has worked with leading English and Urdu news organisations.
