Hyderabad: The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) urged Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to recover nearly ₹2,000 crore in unpaid water and sewerage charges from state and Central government departments.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, FGG president M. Padmanabha Reddy said ordinary citizens pay water and drainage charges on time, while many government departments have failed to clear dues for years. Data from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) shows that state departments alone owe ₹1,764.18 crore. Central government organisations and public sector undertakings owe another ₹250.23 crore.
Mission Bhagiratha tops the list with dues of ₹1,011.30 crore. The Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Department owes ₹377.29 crore. The Health Department owes ₹109.69 crore, followed by the Housing Department with ₹57.55 crore and the Home Department with ₹40.86 crore.
FGG said citizens face a double burden. Under the GHMC Act, they already pay property tax, which includes water and drainage components. At the same time, they also pay separate charges to HMWSSB for the same services. “People are forced to pay on time, but government offices and employee quarters continue to enjoy services without payment,” the Forum stated.
The organisation warned that these defaults have left HMWSSB under financial strain. It said poor finances will eventually affect the quality of water supply and sewerage services across Hyderabad. Calling the situation both “ironic and unjust,” FGG asked the Chief Minister to direct all department heads to clear the arrears without delay.