Water misuse penalty in Chandigarh to be up 2.5 times

Ramkrishan Upadhyay
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 28

Be ready to face an enhanced penalty of Rs 5,000 for misuse of drinking water like washing car or watering lawn as the UT Administration has issued the draft notification for making amendment in the water bylaws approved by the Municipal Corporation.

Sources said the Administration had given 15 days to the public to submit objections or suggestions before issuing the final notification.

Presently, the MC is imposing a penalty of Rs 2,000 on those found misusing water. But now they will have to pay 2.5 times the penalty amount as the fine has been enhanced to Rs 5,000 and will be included in the regular water bills.

Every summer, the civic body bans watering of lawns, washing of courtyards and washing of vehicles etc. in the morning.

As per the draft notification, the MC has proposed to increase the water tariff besides increasing the penalty for offences like misuse of drinking water.

It has also been proposed to impose water cess of Rs 20 per month per connection for the maintenance of public parks/green belts within the MC limits.

Wastage of water due to leakage, overflow and use of booster pump directly on the water supply line will invite a fine of Rs 5,000. Any violation of the water bylaws will invite a fine of Rs 5,000.

As per the draft notification, the MC has proposed to double the existing rates of water. The water charges have not been revised for the last nine years. The officials proposed to double the rates to overcome the loss in the supply of drinking water to the residents.

The MC has also fixed charges for water supply through tankers and fixed the rate at Rs 600 per tanker. Earlier, it was Rs 350. Water tankers will be provided free of cost at religious functions.

Further, the MC has proposed to increase water charges by five per cent every year.

For unmetered water supply in the urban area (EWS), a flat rate of Rs 500 per connection per month will be charged till the meters are fixed in the colonies.

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