Now, water tankers to go off roads

HYDERABAD: As many as 500 water tankers will stop plying in Hyderabad with effect from October 1 as HMWS&SB Water Tanker Owners’ joint action committee has unanimously decided to stop running water tankers - free as well as paid ones -- as the management allegedly failed to meet their demands.The HMWS&SB Water Tanker Owners’ JAC chairman Mohammed Khan told City Express that they had submitted several representations, including a final notice to managing director Adhar Sinha on September 12, urging him to solve their problems in two weeks. “As the managament failed to respond, there is no alternative but to go on a strike,” he said.Their main demand is enhanced payment for free trips from `160 to `300 and for paid trips from `325 to `435. They are calling for a hike in view of the sharp rise in diesel prices and insurance fee among others.Of the 515 water tankers, 115 supply water for free to slums, tail-end areas and VIP houses. The remaining 400 are paid water tankers. If the strike takes off, citizens will be in for big trouble.