BWSSB asked to compensate for ‘harassing’ man

BWSSB asked to pay Rs. 25,000 compensation to a Rajajinagar resident

Issuing notice to a citizen repeatedly demanding payment of arrears for a non-domestic water supply connection that had been disconnected over two decades ago proved costly for Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).

The Bangalore Urban III Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum described the action of BWSSB as “negligent attitude” that amounts to deficiency of service besides amounting to “harassment”, and has directed BWSSB to pay Rs. 25,000 as compensation to the complainant, P. Nataraj, resident of Rajajinagar 2nd Block.

The history

The complainant’s father, late Puttanna, had obtained a non-domestic water connection. In 1991, BWSSB had disconnected water supply due to non-payment of Rs. 143. However, complainant’s father had paid Rs. 143 on December 5, 1991. Later, water supply was permanently disconnected and meter also ceased to exist.

However, BWSSB repeatedly issued several notices to the complainant from October 2010 demanding payment of arrears with interest. BWSSB issued yet another notice in April 2013 demanding payment of “arrears” totalling Rs. 83,427. Besides that, BWSSB threatened to disconnect the water connection given to the complainant’s residential building if arrears for the “non-existing” connection were not paid.

Besides replying in writing, the complainant participated in a water adalat organised by BWSSB for redressal of grievances of consumers, but to no avail.

BWSSB did not even respond to the notice issued by the consumer forum after Mr. Nataraj lodged a complaint under the Consumer Protection Act in August 2013.

The forum, comprising its president T. Rajashekaraiah and member Subhashini observed that “in spite of appearing before the water adalat and explaining the facts, BWSSB blindly issued notices, which caused mental harassment to the complainant.”

Taking note of “negligent” attitude of BWSSB, the consumer forum said it was necessary to award higher compensation for subjecting the complainant to mental harassment as “it will also be a lesson to BWSSB that it should not commit such mistakes.”