10-year-old apartment block served 'illegal' notice in Hyderabad

14 January, 2013

Local area manager of Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board issued a notice based on the Chief Vigilance Officer's report that apartment block sewerage connection is illegal. The report given by the vigilance officer is biased as it has been prepared without going through the previous records on the matter, say the flat owners.

IT WAS surprising for one and all in our building to read the notice dated 13 January 2013 issued by the Manager (Engg), Hyderguda Section, O & M Dn. XVI, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad Metro Water Board, in the name of our apartment block.

Our block was constructed in the year 2002. We have learned that the builder at that time had written to the Rajendranagar Municipality to lay a Rider Sewerage Line to the 9-block residential complex up to Musi River Bridge, as he had paid Rs. 40 lakh as betterment charges. The sewerage line was also laid by the builder at the back side of our block on the road in the adjacent colony connecting to a septic tank about 700 yards away.

In 2006 the Rajendranagar Municipal authorities had taken up sewerage and water supply main line works around the apartment complex and other areas. A wider line was laid few meters away from the line laid by the builder and connected our block's sewerage line.

Again in 2010-11, before handing over the sewerage and water supply division to the board, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Rajendranagar Circle 6 authorities laid another new sewerage line adjacent to the already-established lines and diverted our lines to new one.

Based on the above facts (which can be cross verified with the GHMC Rajendranagar authorities) our sewerage line connected cannot be termed as illegal. Hence the notice issued is highly objectionable and it should be withdrawn immediately.

It was also surprising that in the notice it was requested to apply for water supply as well as sewerage connection within week's time. Water supply connection issue cannot be clubbed with the sewerage issue. It is up to the flat owners to avail the connection or not, as it involved huge amount of money to get a new connection.

As the notice has been issued without verifying the facts, the issuing authority should withdraw it immediately and send necessary communication to the flat owners at the earliest.