Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Oct 29: The general session of the city council, which met on Thursday October 28, discussed heavy losses the city corporation has been suffering on account of poor collection of water bills and illegal connections.
“The city corporation suffers a loss of five lac rupees per day and Rs 18 crore annually, in respect of water supply alone. For about 10,000 water meters, monthly bills are not being issued. Over 50% of water bill dues remain unpaid,” said former mayor, Shankar Bhat, expressing his deep concern at the revenue loss the city corporation has been suffering in respect of drinking water being supplied by it.
He pointed out that as per a survey conducted by a team of engineers from Bangalore, there are 2.4 lac properties in the city, and water connection is provided to only 70,000 units. “Out of this, bills are issued to only 60,000 consumers, and only 50% of them are paying the bills. Water gets wasted without generating any revenue to the corporation, because of water being drawn from the main line coming to city from Tumbe through unauthorized connections. Unless we take strict action to plug these loopholes, the corporation will be faced with huge losses,” he warned.
The opposition parties squarely blamed Prasanna Technology, to which contract for issuance of water bills has been entrusted, for the mess. Opposition leaders like Shashidhar Hegde, Asok Kumar, Navin D’Souza, Deepak Pooojary and James D’Souza, who provided records to the commissioner, blamed the firm for not issuing water bills, not repairing faulty meters etc., and demanded to blacklist the firm.
Responding to these discussions, city corporation commissioner, Dr Vijayaprakash, said that water is being supplied at the rate that will be sufficient in the year 2025. He pointed out that as against 36 mgd water being supplied by the corporation, income is received only for 20 mgd. “During the last year, income from water bills was expected to reach Rs 32 crore, but we could collect only Rs 22 crore. This year’s estimated income is Rs 36 crore, but collection so far has touched only eight crore rupees,” he pointed out. He also said that tenders would be floated soon relating to water bills, and a firm with good track record would be appointed for issuance of water bills. He also promised to set up a separate call centre to attend to water supply problems.
Independent member, Mariamma Thomas, questioned the mayor about the discrepancy in the allocation of funds to different wards. She expressed resentment at the fact that some wards were given only six lac rupees, while some others got as much as Rs 60 lac as development funds, and questioned the propriety behind these allocations.
City mayor, Rajani Dugganna, presided. Deputy mayor, Rajendra Kumar, was present.