Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) is gearing up to enforce the mandatory installation of water meters in a few localities as a means to check illegal water connections and also determine the water quality being supplied.
The Board would also bear the expenditure to install the meters Chief Executive Officer Sujatha Gupta informed the Board meeting here on Monday.
Though, it was mandatory to install water meters to obtain a water connection, due to poor enforcement and monitoring, most residents did not install them.
There are over 16,000 water connections in over 270 residential colonies and 125 slums according to SCB records. Authorities claim that just 1,600 residents had installed water meters and most of these were either defunct or damaged. SCB authorities feel that installing meters would also address the increasing complaints pertaining to irregular and non-supply of water from many localities.
Initially, it would be enforced in areas like Bowenpally, Mahendra Hills where water is supplied regularly and based on the results, it will be extended to other areas in a phased manner, said Ms. Gupta.
Each water meter will cost about Rs. 595 and eight supervisors are to be hired to monitor installation and collection of charges from each ward.
Biometric system
The SCB also decided to introduce bio-metric system to monitor staff attendance at dispensaries and other offices as there were complaints about employees reporting late for work. The project would cost about Rs.4 lakh and would be ready by November 1, said Ms. Gupta. There are over 600 employees and they mark their attendance at five different circles including Bowenpally, Picket, Bolarum, Karkhana and Balamrai in addition to the main office near YMCA Secunderabad. A day’s salary would be cut for erring staff.
Multi-level parking
The long-pending plan of a multi-level parking lot came for discussion yet again at the meeting with Board president Sunil S. Bodhe instructing authorities to consider the plan, pointing out it was already done successfully in Pune. It was decided to study a proposal to develop a multi-level parking complex near Jubilee Bus station (JBS) and designs were likely to be ready in a month.
General Officer Commanding of Andhra Sub Area Major General Cyrus Addie Pithawalla praised the Board for taking up different initiatives for development of the cantonment.