■ 90-day groundwater recharge campaign launched citywide

■ RWH pits mandatory for plots above 300 sq. yards

■ Daily tanker demand drops to 8,600 due to improved water measures

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

In a significant move to combat water scarcity and boost groundwater recharge, over 12,000 rainwater harvesting (RWH) pits have been installed across Hyderabad under a special initiative by the Water Board. Following directives from Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, a 90-day action plan has now been rolled out under the guidance of district in-charge minister Ponnam Prabhakar.

Water Board Managing Director Ashok Reddy stated that RWH pits are now mandatory for all residential plots measuring over 300 square yards, and strongly recommended for homes above 200 square yards within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits. 

The need for this initiative stems from a city-wide survey revealing that areas with the highest tanker dependency last year had low groundwater levels and lacked functional harvesting pits. Of the 42,000 households surveyed, over half had no RWH pits, and many others failed to maintain them properly. To address this, the Water Board—working alongside NGOs—has not only facilitated the installation of 12,000 pits but also prepared to issue notices to 16,000 additional households urging compliance.

Reddy urged citizens to act now, saying, “Every drop of rainwater must go into the ground. The time to build is now.” Currently, the city requires around 8,600 tankers per day, down from the 11,000 daily peak in summer. The Board assures all deliveries are fulfilled within 24 hours, with additional capacity for 3,000 more tankers if demand rises.