The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has introduced a unique reward-based system to curb drinking water wastage in the city ahead of the summer season. Under this initiative, citizens who capture photos of individuals wasting drinking water—such as washing vehicles or driveways—and upload them to the soon-to-be-launched ‘Paani App’, will be rewarded with ₹200. This move aims to involve the public in water conservation, as the city often faces severe water scarcity and high demand for tankers during the peak summer months.
The Paani App, scheduled for release in the first week of March, utilizes advanced geolocation technology to pinpoint exactly where the wastage is occurring. Once a report is verified, authorities will impose hefty fines ranging from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000 on the offenders. Furthermore, the Water Board has issued a stern warning: if a violator fails to pay the fine, they will be blacklisted from booking water tankers in the future, effectively cutting off their backup supply during shortages.
This crackdown comes as the government highlights the high cost of bringing water to Hyderabad from hundreds of kilometers away. While the government spends approximately ₹45 per kiloliter to supply water and offers up to 20 kiloliters free to households, many residents continue to use treated drinking water for non-essential purposes. By incentivizing citizens to report wastage, the HMWSSB hopes to instill a sense of responsibility and ensure that precious drinking water is preserved for the entire city’s needs during the scorching heat of 2026.
