Date:08/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/08/stories/2008090859110300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Daily drinking water supply for SCB residents soon

Special Correspondent

Tenders called for taking up feeder line work

Feeder line from Mahendra Hills to Karkhana estimated to cost Rs. 9.8 crore
Another feeder line work from Bolarum to Risala Bazaar estimated to cost Rs. 11.05 crore

HYDERABAD: Six months down the line and if the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) lives up to its promise, more citizens of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) can get daily drinking water supply.

HMWSSB Managing Director Asok Kumar has assured that tenders were called for taking up feeder line work from Mahendra Hills to Karkhana, estimated to cost Rs. 9.8 crore while another feeder line work is to be taken up from Bolarum to Risala Bazar estimated to cost Rs. 11.05 crore is to be taken up in the second phase.

Union Minister of State for Defence M. M. Pallam Raju handed over a cheque of Rs. 20 crore to Mr. Kumar for undertaking the work on Saturday on behalf of the SCB. The work is part of the master plan prepared for the area to provide adequate water for a projected population by 2036 and estimated to cost Rs. 107.44 crore.

To take up the first stage of the plan, the SCB has resolved to take up works worth Rs. 44 crore and Rs. 20 crore given to the HMWSSB is part of it. During the function, Mr. Raju also handed over cheques of Rs. 3,000 each to 40 residential colony welfare associations for upkeep of parks.

The launch of online services especially complaints registration by SCB became a hit even before a formal opening with four grievances already filed! Brig. S.N. Iyer, a resident of Vasavinagar, urged officials to speed up issuance of the electoral photo identity cards.

Wing Commander K.N. Rao complained about non-functioning of streetlights at Kakaguda while Lt. Col. K. Chowdhary of Raghava Colony complained about a manhole. Another complainant, Vijayakar, did not hesitate to write the names of officials who he alleged were not releasing his building plans!

“We did not expect such a quick response,” said a delighted Chief Executive Officer V. Premchand.

“Most of our work is related to receiving complaints or applications for certificates. We are expecting online services to make the process simpler as people need not keep doing rounds of our offices,” said Health Superintendent O. Gajjaram.

The portal, http://scb.aponline.gov.in, allows citizens to pay all their bills and apply for services allowing online clearances of applications and can be accessed from anywhere.