The Free Press Journal

Highrise pays Rs 70 lakh for water tankers in five years

- FAISAL TANDEL faisal.tandel@fpj.co.in

Not just those residing in the tribal belt or illegal structures of Thane district, but some posh areas of the city too are reeling under water crisis.

Sukoon Heights, a highrise housing society in Mumbra, has been facing water scarcity for many years. Chairman of the Serenity Tower, one of the buildings in Sukon Heights, said even after having the occupancy certificat­e (OC) and other relevant documents, the society has spent around Rs 70 lakh on water tankers in the past five years.

“The society has also paid Rs 37 lakh as water tax to the authoritie­s and almost Rs 35 lakh were spent on miscellane­ous expenditur­e to get the water connection,” said Khan, also a school trustee.

The building comprises 18 floors with around 400 flats and nearly 2,000 residents. Khan said it all started after the constructi­on of the first tower, which was ready in 2016-17. The residents moved in after the OC was procured. “Water supply was the responsibi­lity of the builder, who was the chief promoter of the society and was collecting maintenanc­e. Instead of installing an authentic line from the Thane Municipal Corporatio­n (TMC), the builder kept ordering water tankers,” said Khan, adding that the maintenanc­e collected from the flat owners was spent on tankers. After a year or two, Harmony and Serenity were occupied by residents. And the same issue of water scarcity continued, he added.

Full report on www.freepressj­ournal.in

 ??  ?? The society has paid Rs 37 lakh as water tax to the authoritie­s
The society has paid Rs 37 lakh as water tax to the authoritie­s

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