Hyderabad water crisis deepens as MES, beer manufacturers and soft drink makers increase consumption

Amidst a looming water crisis in Hyderabad, recent revelations indicate that beer manufacturers, soft drink makers, and entities like Hyderabad airport are among the leading consumers of water in the city. According to a report by a national English daily, the Military Engineering Services (MES) tops the list, paying an annual water bill of Rs 4.2 crore, followed by the Railways with Rs 3.7 crore.

The top 13 water consumers in Hyderabad and its surroundings include Mission Bhagirathi, MES, Ordinance Factory, Cantonment Board, South Central Railway, United Breweries LTD, Hyderabad International Airport, Nuclear Fuel Complex, Air Force Academy, Defense Metallurgical Research Lab, Singapore Town Ship, Police Department, and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverage Limited.

United Breweries leads the beer industry, paying Rs 1.4 crore annually, while Coca-Cola follows closely with Rs 1 crore. Other beer companies also rank high in water consumption.

Notable entities such as Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, HAL, CRPF, BHEL, Osmania University, Gandhi Hospital, and Dairy Development Corporation are also significant water consumers.

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) earns around Rs 100 crore through water supply, mainly from bulk consumers. Due to the provision of 20,000 liters of free water for domestic use, HMWSSB offers a rebate of Rs 20 crore, reimbursed by the government.

Hyderabad's daily water demand exceeds 200 crore liters. Regarding beer companies, Director of Revenue VL Praveen Kumar of HMWS&SB noted that they receive Manjeera water en route from Medak to Hyderabad, while surrounding villages are supplied with Mission Bhageeratha water.

Managing Director C Sudharshan Reddy assured that the city's water resources can sustain supply until August. Large consumers are billed commercially, and depending on the situation, they may be advised to conserve water usage.