In an effort to streamline the process of scrutinising applications for water and sewer connections, the Chennai Corporation has asked Metrowater to share details of applications with the civic body's zonal offices.
According to Corporation sources, the decision follows complaints from several residents about delay in providing connections. The information about applications and their status would help the Corporation keep a tab on the processing time and intervene if there was a need. On an average, Metrowater receives about 2,000 applications a month seeking water and sewer connections. Consumers submit applications only at the head office in Chintadripet to facilitate scrutiny.
They have to provide documents, including copy of property assessment certificate from the Corporation, building plan and a document certifying no tax arrears.
Metrowater sources said the applications registered are sent to area offices and connections are provided within a month. Site inspection and the time taken to obtain permission for road cut from the civic body constituted major part of the work period. “Provision of connections to buildings on bus route roads would take two or three months as it was difficult to get permission to cut the roads, particularly those newly laid,” said an official source. Rejection of applications was rare and was done only when deviations are found in the building plan during the inspection, sources said.
Corporation sources said in order to reduce the delay owing to sanctioning of road cuts, the civic body has plans to introduce a system where residents could apply online seeking permission for road cuts.
