Water bill anomalies abound in Sec 17: MC
CHANDIGARH: There are no exact records of water consumption in Sector 17 but an ongoing MC survey has found that many commercial buildings of the sector either have faulty meters or none at all. They get direct supply of potable water through main pipes.
The situation in rented offices, shops and institutes is particularly bad. The survey found that even meter reading employees of the civic body authority have not been checking buildings properly. They have, in fact, been sending out readings on their own, leading to poor income generation against optimum supply.
"This is shocking. I came to know that shops, offices and other commercial establishments in almost 50% of buildings in Sector 17 either have faulty meters or no meters and they are getting supply through main pipes. In many cases, current bills are being paid, but arrears worth lakhs have not been paid. I have already ordered disconnection of such connections and things are being done by the engineering wing of the MC", said mayor Subash Chawla.
He estimated that the civic body has not been getting around 20% of the amount for the total water supply in Sector 17. "There is information that in some places, connections have been taken in an illegal manner. Criminal action will be taken against the accused after conducting proper verification. It has also been found that many commercial premises which don"t have meters are paying the bill. This means bill readers are making readings in their homes. This will also be probed in detail later," he said.
Sector 17 is the biggest commercial hub in Chandigarh. Sources in the MC"s engineering wing said a large of the temporary shops are being set up at the complex on a daily basis. They have permanent but illegal arrangements for water through main supply pipelines.
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Water-bill-anomalies-abound-in-Sec-17-MC/articleshow/20037438.cms
The situation in rented offices, shops and institutes is particularly bad. The survey found that even meter reading employees of the civic body authority have not been checking buildings properly. They have, in fact, been sending out readings on their own, leading to poor income generation against optimum supply.
"This is shocking. I came to know that shops, offices and other commercial establishments in almost 50% of buildings in Sector 17 either have faulty meters or no meters and they are getting supply through main pipes. In many cases, current bills are being paid, but arrears worth lakhs have not been paid. I have already ordered disconnection of such connections and things are being done by the engineering wing of the MC", said mayor Subash Chawla.
He estimated that the civic body has not been getting around 20% of the amount for the total water supply in Sector 17. "There is information that in some places, connections have been taken in an illegal manner. Criminal action will be taken against the accused after conducting proper verification. It has also been found that many commercial premises which don"t have meters are paying the bill. This means bill readers are making readings in their homes. This will also be probed in detail later," he said.
Sector 17 is the biggest commercial hub in Chandigarh. Sources in the MC"s engineering wing said a large of the temporary shops are being set up at the complex on a daily basis. They have permanent but illegal arrangements for water through main supply pipelines.
Source - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Water-bill-anomalies-abound-in-Sec-17-MC/articleshow/20037438.cms