NMMC CUTS SUPPLY TO 863 ILLEGAL WATER CONNECTIONS

CBD BELAPUR: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has come down hard on those taking connections from civic water pipelines illegally. In the past one week, a total of 862 such illegal connections have been disconnected.

In Belapur, 58 connections were disconnected, 81 in Nerul, 86 in Vashi, 141 in Turbhe and Sanpada, 57 in Kopar Khairane, 37 in Ghansoli, 180 in Airoli and 223 in Digha, according to sources.

Civic sources say that Digha, Airoli and Turbhe areas have been found to have the most number of illegal water connections.

After taking charge as municipal commissioner, Tukaram Munde who has tightened the administration has also asked for action against illegal acts.

It is in this context that the civic body has initiated action against illegal water connections. Nizam Shaikh, a social worker, said, “The lethargic attitude of civic officials has led to loss of crores of rupees for the civic body.”

“The civic body has all along claimed that loss of water due to theft and leakages in the city is very less when compared to other cities in the state. The revelation of such large number of illegal water connections shows how alert the civic officials have been,” added Shaikh.

Kesar Singh, another social worker, said, “It is because of such inefficiency of civic officials that the city is suffering from 40% water cut. Morbe dam has a capacity to supply 450 MLD of water to the city which is more than adequate. However, bad planning and a blind eye to such thefts has led to water cuts for the first time in the city.”