MC panel okays 2,128 water connections outside ‘lal dora’

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 6

A panel appointed by the Municipal Corporation House has recommended provisory water connections to 2,128 consumers, who are currently using the water supply illegally outside “lal dora” in all 22 villages in the UT.

The committee, however, has set a condition that no water supply/sewer line will be laid by the MC. The corporation will provide water supply as per availability and no separate network will be laid.

Though it will be a provisory water connection, it will be akin to a regular water connection and hence, consumers will be charged the domestic tariff. Sewerage and other maintenance charges will also be collected from them.

The provisory connection cannot be used as a proof of ownership or any other legal proof. To obtain the connection, a proof of ownership or registry of the house will be required.

The committee’s recommendations will be tabled before the MC House for its approval during a meeting on March 9. If the House approved the recommendations, it will be sent to the Administration for the final nod.

If the temporary connections are issued by the civic body outside ‘Lal Dora’/’phirni’ for these 2,128 consumers, the corporation will earn an estimated revenue of Rs4.01 crore in the first year. If the water charges for the past two years are included, the amount goes up to a whopping Rs6.87 crore.

“These consumers are already using MC water without permission. By giving them temporary connections, we will be able to earn huge revenue without any additional cost to the corporation,” said a senior MC official.

MC to hire 30 vehicles to lift horticultural waste

The MC has proposed to spend over Rs 1 crore on 30 tractor-trailers to be hired from two private firms for lifting horticultural waste for two months. These will be hired for Rs5,999 per tractor-trailer per day for three trips. The MC will bring an agenda in the House meeting.

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