WATER BODY TOLD TO PAY `2K FOR OVERCHARGING
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB) has been ordered to pay S.M. Khizar Mohiuddin, a resident of Tolichowki, a sum of `2,000 for overcharging him and threatening to cut off his water supply when he refused to pay the exaggerated amount.
Mr Mohiuddin filed a complaint with the consumer forum claiming that the HMWS&SB had increased the water bill for his domestic connection in Arvind Nagar Colony from March 2016, without any prior notice. He said that before that his bill had always been well within `300, but in March 2016 he had received a bill of `3,193.4. He said that he had written to the Managing Director of HMWS&SB, but he had not received a reply.
The complainant said that he had informed the MD that his flat was a residential premises having three floors, one of which was occupied by him. He said that he had even attended the Meet the MD programme held at the head office in Khairatabad and filled a grievance form to ensure that his complaint reached the relevant authorities. At the end of that meeting, he was told to pay the bill and assured that the additional amount would be adjusted in future bills. Although he did so, he continued to receive inflated water bills.
The opposite party contended that the bill had been issued for three portions of the residential block where the complaint lived. They claimed that the complainant had been informed of this by the MD during the programme held at the head office.
The forum observed that despite the Board claiming to have conducted an inspection, it was unable to submit an inspection report as evidence. The forum also noted that the section quoted by the opposite party was not applicable as the consumer had submitted enough evidence to support his position. The forum ruled in favour of the complainant and said the complainant’s connection should be treated as a domestic connection, for which he should be billed as per the meter reading. The complainant received `1,500 as compensation and an additional `500 towards costs.