The Mysuru City Corporation, has decided to launch a drive to disconnect 40,000 water connections that are drawn illegally. The water supply lines are drawn without adopting water meters, which is affecting MCC’s revenue. MCC has Rs 120 crore dues from hundreds of users.
As water cess was the main source of revenue for the MCC after property tax, it has initiated a major drive to mop up resources and take up development works.
The city ha a population of more than 13 lakh and over 2 lakh households. MCC has 1,70,000 metered water connections. It also has more than 40,000 illegal connections including domestic, industrial, and commercial ones in all 65 wards in the nine zonal limits. If these connections are regularized, MCC can generate an additional Rs 2 crore revenue per month.
In some parts of the city, consumers have cut water pipes and attached rubber pipes bypassing the meters to draw water. Moreover, residents also let the water into drains, wasting a lot of it, said sources.
MCC has also initiated the process of collecting arrears from defaulters during the drive. Officials have failed to collect dues of nearly Rs 180.3 crore from defaulters including over Rs 40 crore in pending bills from various government offices. Though the MCC has routinely collected water bills, but for the first time, it will launch a major drive in all 65 wards from Monday.
The highest number of illegal connections were found in Narasimharaja, followed by Chamaraja, Krishnaraja and Chamundeshwari assembly segments. As per the instructions from the commissioner, officials in all nine zonal limits will carry out the drive simultaneously.
MCC commissioner Lakshmikanth Reddy told STOI that MCC has collected a record of water cess of Rs 58 crore by February third week due to tough measures initiated by it. “Last year, MCC collected Rs 40 crore water cess and this year the figure may reach Rs 70 crore. MCC has also decided to streamline all water connections to mobilize resources,” he said.
“As taxpayers were badly affected by the pandemic, the government must waive off the interest, penalty and offer a one-time settlement for all water cess defaulters and illegal connections,” former mayor Arif Hussein told STOI.
