Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Nov 7: After protracted correspondence and telephonic conversations culminating in slapping of a notice on Ullal municipality to severe water supply to it, Mangalore City Corporation has succeeded in collecting Rs 25 lac out of the water bills dues from Ullal, which had mounted to Rs 1.60 crore over a period of time. The corporation has also decided to continue supply of water to Ullal as before, taking into account its gesture in paying a portion of its dues.

It is learnt that Ullal municipality, which started drawing water from Mangalore water supply scheme since January 1, 2010, had evaded signing of an agreement on this issue. Even though its dues piled up precariously, the municipality ignored the need to attend to the issue urgently, even after several reminders from the city corporation.

In the general session of the corporation held on September 30, the ruling party decided to cut water supply if Ullal municipality failed to pay its dues within a week, in spite of stiff opposition from Congress members. The Ullal municipality, which suddenly awoke to the startling reality, started acting on it. On October 31, an agreement on water supply was signed between municipal chief officer of Ullall and water supply department officer of the city corporation. Apart from delivering a cheque of Rs 25 lac on November 4, the Ullal local administration had assured to clear its dues along with its monthly water bills dues, in installments. Ullal municipality is likely to get some concession in the original bill, as it is proved that the meter fixed towards water supply to Ullal had developed some defects.