To ensure prompt supply of water by tankers and to cut down on any unnecessary cost, the GVMC is introducing the Global Positioning System (GPS) on them.

Mandatory

Installing GPS has been made mandatory from April 1 for all the tankers making it part of the tender document.

While 60 tankers make 460 trips daily to the areas that require supply in the year, in summer the number of trips is increased by 170 using another 30 tankers.

So far GPS has been fixed on 32 of the 60 tankers, it was learnt. GVMC intends to fix them to all tankers by April 17.

The ones for which the GPS has already been fixed will be made operational by then.

While Rs. 4 crore is spent on the supply by tankers in the year, for the tankers in summer Rs. 84.7 lakh is spent.

While the basic purpose of introducing GPS is to track vehicles, it is the number of trips made that is important and to prevent any false claims being made, say sources in GVMC.

Besides, when a tanker starts its trip, is idle or moving and the timely delivery of water at the designated points and when the trip ends also can be ensured by monitoring through GPS.

Supply by tankers is more in Zones I, V and VI with the merged 32 panchayats and Gajuwaka area falling under it.

Wards One to six that include Madhurawada and Endada and more than 50 per cent of wards 55, 56 and 57 in Gajuwaka and in Vepagunta and Pendurti areas of Zone VI are covered by tankers.

Initially there was some resistance but it was insisted that the contractor should install the GPS device.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is also insisting on introducing GPS on all water tankers all over the State.