6 illegal RO plants sealed in 24 hours in Faridabad

Bijendra Ahlawat

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Tribune News Service

Faridabad, November 10

In a drive, the Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) has sealed six illegal RO private plants in the past 24 hours in the city. With more than 200 such plants identified so far, the unauthorised water plants are claimed to be responsible for the short supply of drinking water and loss of revenue to the civic body.

Revealing that the drive launched on Tuesday has resulted in sealing of six such plants, a senior official of the MCF said while four of the plants are located in Subhash Colony, one each had been functional in Adarsh Nagar and Vishnu Colony. He said the drive had been taken up after a detailed survey carried out recently found a total of 208 illegal plants operating in the five divisions of Old Faridabad, NIT and Ballabgarh zones.

These have been functional without permission from the MCF for the past many years resulting in loss of revenue worth several crores, it is claimed. A similar drive carried out by the MCF in May last year had led to the sealing or disconnection of 34 such plants. But according to sources, while many of these resumed work soon after, the civic authorities have failed to curb such an activity on a permanent basis. These suppliers charge an amount between Rs 10 to 50 for a 20 litre bottle, according to sources.

Blaming the water mafia for the problem of short supply of drinking water in many localities, sources claim that this also causes the civic body to lose an annual revenue of several crores.

With a total of about 5.5 lakh households and other units availing the water and sewer connections, it is reported that only 2.85 lakh units are authorised. It is claimed that tanker and private water supply mafia enjoying political patronage have also been exploiting the water supply sources and piped water supply network, resulting in inequitable distribution. Against a demand of 310 MLD daily, the MCF is supplying about 250 MLD. An annual revenue upto Rs 12 crore is collected.

The drive against the illegal and unauthorised connections will continue indefinitely, said Yash Pal Yadav, Commissioner, MCF.