The disagreement between Residents Welfare Associations and the Pallavaram municipal administration over monthly sewer charges to be collected, continues.
A few days ago, when a resident from New Colony, Chrompet, called toll free number 1800-425-1600 to complain about a drainage block, he was promptly told by sanitary staff on duty that if drainage charges which people owe to them are not paid, their complaints would not be attended to.
The reply however has not gone down well among civic groups. Federation of Civic and Welfare Associations of Pallavaram president V.Santhanam blamed authorities for not taking a decision to reduce monthly underground drainage charges from Rs.150 to Rs.100 based on a resolution passed by the municipal council in 2014.
In its reply to an RTI application, the municipality stated that there is no provision in the law to provide service to defaulters.
The reply stated that the resolution was not binding on the municipality in collecting their tax dues from their dues.
