HMWS&SB pushes for rainwater harvesting measures as tanker demand surges

Hyderabad’s growing dependence on water tankers has become a clear warning sign of declining groundwater levels in the city.“Earlier, only about 40,000 people used to book tankers. Now that number has increased to over one lakh,” Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) Managing Director K. Ashok Reddy said, stressing on the urgent need for water management.Speaking during a programme with the All India Radio on Friday, he said permanent water security for Hyderabad cannot be achieved only through bringing water from distant sources like Krishna and Godavari rivers. Conserving rainwater and improving groundwater levels are the only long-term solutions.While the city receives rainfall for only about 70 days a year, the dependence on groundwater remains for months. Incre