MHADA, state govt, PWD among BMC’s water bill defaulters

Despite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Hydraulic Department’s sending several notices about pending water bills, Rs 350 crore is yet to be collected. The Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority (MHADA), state government and other government offices are among the top water bill defaulters.

According to civic data, MHADA’s water bill dues are Rs 16,675 lakh, the Health Department’s pending arrears is Rs 709.43 lakh dues, Forest Department’s due is Rs 718.09 lakh. Similarly, the state Urban Development department owes the BMC Rs. 515.53 lakh, Animal Husbandry department Rs 533.95 lakh and the Public Work Department (PWD) owes Rs. 694.11 lakh for water.

BMC has threatened to disconnect the water connection of those who fail to pay water dues. However, Shiv Sena Improvements Committee Chairman and corporator (Bala) Anant Nar has suggested to BMC to not to disconnect water supply, but rather collect the money from concerned government authority. “Deduct the sum through the salary of employees from the concerned authorities. Some days back, BMC Hydraulic Department officials came to disconnect water supply of a few buildings at Andheri. But due to my intervention the officers went back. Disconnecting water supply is not the proper way to collect pending dues,” he added.

The dispute is over the fact that the government agencies are refusing to pay the sewerage charge along with water bills, while the BMC is not ready to forego. A few years ago, the civic body implemented the ‘Abhay Yojana’ scheme, under which two per cent pending additional charge was waived off if all water charges, sewerage charges and water meter rent were paid within the stipulated time. In spite of these attempts, arrears for water charges are unpaid.