Water supply to 34 illegal RO plants cut

BOX: Only 2.85L units paying bill

Though the city has a total of about five lakh households and other units availing water and sewer connections, it is reported that only 2.85 lakh units were paying the bills.

Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, May 9

The Municipal Corporation Faridabad has disconnected water supply of 34 private water reverse osmosis (RO) plants in the city in the past 24 hours. The authorities have announced to take a legal action against all unauthorised sources of water supply and connections. Over two lakh of the total five lakh water and sewer connections in the city are reported to be illegal.

The RO plants whose water supply has been disconnected include seven in Sanjay Colony of Sector- 23, seven in Dabua Colony, 18 in NH-1 and NH-2 and two in NH-5 of the NIT area here. Claiming that action against several water RO plants running in the NIT and Badkhal subdivisions after complaints was received recently, a spokesperson of the civic body said it was also aimed at improving the water supply in the summer months.

Though the city has a total of about five lakh households and other units availing water and sewer connections, it is reported that only 2.85 lakh units were paying the bills. Majority of such connections are located in slum clusters and densely populated colonies of the city. It is claimed that tanker and private water supply mafia enjoying political patronage has also been exploiting the water supply sources and piped water supply network, resulting in inequitable distribution. Against a demand of 265 MLD daily, the municipal corporation is supplying about 250 MLD of water daily to a population of 18 lakh. The total revenue from water and sewer connections is between 10 and 12 crore each year.

“FIR will be lodged against anyone who reconnects the supply to these (RO),” said Virender Kardam, Superintending Engineer, Municipal Corporation Faridabad. Helpline numbers, 0129- 2415549 and 0129-2411664, have been made functional for lodging complaint or information about any such activity, he said adding that regularisation of illegal connections had been stuck up due to Covid crisis. More than 12,000 connections have been regularised in the past two years, he said.