Hyderabad: Water board ropes in SHG women to collect dues

HYDERABAD: Despite many initiatives being launched by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) earlier to collect crores of rupees of water dues from water bill defaulters, the goal could not be reached.
Now, the water board has chosen a new method involving women self-help groups (SHGs), to collect nearly Rs 500 crore water dues from the defaulters. The fund-starved Water Board, which launched a ‘one-time settlement’ (OTS) scheme the last month, has taken a serious note to collect dues to the tune of Rs 500 crore from the defaulters, by availing a facility of interest waived off.
“The women visit the defaulters’ premises, based on the defaulters and dues lists, being provided by the HMWS&SB general managers concerned, and request them to clear dues. The reason for allotting the areas to the women is they can easily identify the local residents. The water board has issued temporary ID cards to the identified women groups,” according to a senior HMWS&SB official.
The water board is paying an amount of Rs 10,000 to each SHG woman as honorarium for assistance in collecting the dues, which are pending for more than a decade, he said. “Our water board will assist the SHG women track the defaulters. The defaulters can pay either using Google Pay, Paytm or E-PoS machines on the spot. The defaulters can pay at water board’s cash counters too, added the official.
Meanwhile, the water board announced the OTS scheme will also be applicable to government departments as well. The defaulters can pay their dues until September 15 under the OTS scheme.