Tertiary water: MC to impose penalty for non-compliance

In a bid to enforce water conservation measures, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has decided to impose a penalty of 7.5% of the total water bill on residents and institutions owning properties of 1 kanal and above that have not yet installed tertiary treated (TT) water connections.

The decision was approved during the General House meeting of the MC today.

Charges for services revised

The House approved revision in service charges to address its worsening fiscal crisis.

Birth and death certificates: First copy remains free; additional copies will now cost Rs 100 each, up from the current Rs 12. Adding a name within a year will cost Rs 50, which was earlier free. After a year, the late fee will rise from Rs 5 to Rs 100. Verification of certificates, previously free, will now cost Rs 300.

Mobile toilet vans: The MC will rent out mobile toilet vans for private events, charging Rs 6,500 for events up to 5 km and Rs 7,000 beyond that. The amount includes a refundable security deposit of Rs 2,000.

Other charges: Increased rents for telecom infrastructure and Verka milk booths.

According to the Chandigarh Water Supply Bylaws, 2015, TT water connections were made mandatory for properties of this size, with consumers expected to comply within three months of the notification. Data reveals that out of 7,385 one-kanal houses, only 2,906 have installed TT water connections. Similarly, only 150 of the 414 institutions have complied.

To further encourage compliance, the MC has proposed selling TT water at Rs 7 per kilolitre, a significant increase from the current rate of Rs 2.50 per kilolitre. The water will also be made available for construction, industrial purposes and air-conditioning units.

The decision, however, met with resistance from councillors who cited issues with TT water supply and quality. BJP Councillor Mahesh Inder Singh Sidhu highlighted residents’ complaints about smelly water and delayed pipe repairs. “The MC must ensure proper supply before penalising residents,” he said.

BJP councillor Harpreet Kaur Babla said, “The supply is highly erratic during summers, especially in May and June, when plants need water the most.”