Ponnam Prabhakar Launches ‘Paani’ App to Promote Water Conservation

State Transport and BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar has urged citizens to make water conservation a collective responsibility, warning that Hyderabad’s growing population, declining groundwater levels and the possibility of El Niño conditions could intensify water stress. He launched the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s (HMWSSB) ‘Paani’ mobile application at its headquarters in Khairatabad on Thursday to help citizens report the wastage and misuse of drinking water.

Prabhakar said public participation was crucial to conserving water and clarified that the government’s primary objective was to promote awareness rather than impose penalties. However, he warned that violations would invite action if people continued to disregard the rules despite awareness campaigns. He called for collective efforts to protect water resources and safeguard future generations.

The minister encouraged journalists, government employees, youth, voluntary organisations and colony welfare associations to register as water volunteers. Registered volunteers can use the Paani app to alert water board officials about water wastage in their neighbourhoods. Interested citizens can apply through the volunteer registration section on the board’s official website. The minister said active volunteers would be encouraged for their contribution to conservation efforts.

Highlighting the need to replenish groundwater, Prabhakar expressed concern that levels remained unsatisfactory despite heavy rainfall. He attributed the problem partly to expanding concrete infrastructure that prevents rainwater from seeping into the ground. He urged households, apartment complexes and gated communities to install rainwater harvesting pits and use treated sewage water for non-drinking purposes. Residents were also advised against using potable water to wash vehicles and clean floors.

The government is working to augment supplies through the Godavari Phase II and Phase III projects, but the minister stressed that efficient water use remained equally important.

HMWSSB Managing Director K. Ashok Reddy warned that declining storage in the Singur–Manjeera reservoirs could affect summer supplies. Hyderabad currently receives 560–570 million gallons per day (MGD), but a shortfall of around 100 MGD from these reservoirs is anticipated between January and August next year.

The board plans to source an additional 60 MGD from the Godavari, Krishna and Osman Sagar, potentially leaving a deficit of 40–50 MGD. Around 300,000 connections between Patancheru and Narsingi could be affected. An emergency action plan has been submitted to the government, and residents have been urged to reduce household water consumption by at least 20 per cent.