Tellapur residents demand crackdown on illegal water extraction

Hyderabad: Residents of Tellapur, a rapidly growing suburb of Hyderabad, are raising serious concerns about ongoing illegal water extraction and the resulting public safety issues in their area. Despite repeated appeals to authorities over the past year, the situation remains unresolved.

Ramana Eswaragari, President of the Tellapur Neighborhood Association (TeNA), told Hyderabad Mail that illegal extraction of groundwater has been continuing for years in the Osman Nagar and Gopanpally Road areas. “We have been requesting action for over a year now, but there has been little response from the authorities. These water tankers continue to operate openly,” he said.

Residents say the movement of heavy water tankers, which are extracting and transporting water from the area, has led to frequent traffic congestion and accidents. “The tankers are causing severe traffic issues on Osman Nagar and Gopanpally Road. In some cases, accidents have occurred due to reckless driving,” Eswaragari added.

The problem has intensified with a recent population surge. “Tellapur had fewer than 10,000 residents two years ago. Today, the population is nearing two lakhs due to the construction of high-rise apartments in Tellapur and Osman Nagar,” he said.

In addition to traffic and safety concerns, residents have reported water tankers frequently driving on the wrong side of the road. “When locals confront the drivers, they are often threatened. This is not just a traffic issue, it’s a law and order problem,” Eswaragari said.

The residents are appealing to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Cyberabad Police to take immediate action to stop illegal water extraction and ensure public safety.

“While the government promotes water conservation, illegal extraction is being allowed to continue. We urge authorities to take strict action against those involved,” Eswaragari said.

Residents of Tellapur, Hyderabad, are raising serious concerns about ongoing illegal groundwater extraction by water tankers. The activity is causing traffic congestion, accidents, and safety issues, especially along Osman Nagar and Gopanpally roads. Locals report that many… pic.twitter.com/LC2VqKRkfS

— Hyderabad Mail (@Hyderabad_Mail) May 12, 2025