The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has fined a Jubilee Hills resident Rs. 5,000 after officials confirmed that drinking water was being used to clean the premises, signalling stricter enforcement against the misuse of potable water in the city.
According to a press release cited by Telangana Today, HMWSSB officials acted on a public complaint submitted through WhatsApp. They inspected the residence and imposed the penalty after verifying that drinking water was being used for cleaning. The board did not identify the resident in the statement.
HMWSSB said drinking water should be used sparingly for consumption and essential household needs. It warned that using potable water to clean house compounds or roads would invite action under the applicable rules.
The case places the enforcement process at the centre of Hyderabad’s response to water wastage. The penalty followed a sequence of citizen reporting, an inspection by officials and action after verification, rather than being imposed solely on the basis of an unverified complaint.
The water board has asked residents to report instances of wastage or misuse by sharing relevant photographs or videos, details of the individuals or institutions involved, and the location and full address. Complaints can be sent to HMWSSB’s WhatsApp number, 99499 30003.
Residents can also register complaints through the board’s customer care number, 155313. HMWSSB has assured complainants that their identities will remain strictly confidential, a measure intended to encourage reporting of water misuse in residential and institutional areas.
The board’s warning covers the use of drinking water for cleaning house compounds and roads. Its appeal for public participation indicates that citizen complaints are being used as an enforcement channel alongside field inspections.
HMWSSB urged residents to help prevent water wastage by reporting cases with sufficient supporting information. The Jubilee Hills penalty is the latest publicly reported instance of the board acting after receiving and verifying a complaint.
