Residents of the city woke up to a shock when the staff of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) started delivering water bills to them on Thursday along with arrears for 19 months.
It was after the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) pointed out the board’s failure to collect Rs.7.9 crore as dues in the city municipal corporation limits.
The CAG report was tabled on the floor of the legislature on the first day of the monsoon session here on Monday.
Prasanna Murthy, Executive Engineer, KUWSDB, told The Hindu here on Thursday that the audit objections had put officials under pressure to recover arrears at a time when a majority of consumers were not inclined to pay more for drinking water.
He said as per a government order, water tariff for different categories were revised from Rs. 1,000 Rs. 2,100 a year and they were required to be implemented from August 2011.
But, it was delayed due to the resistance by residents and the revised rates were collected from March 2013. Now, due to audit objections, the board is under pressure to recover the arrears.
Resolution
The council of the Belagavi City Corporation adopted a resolution on November 17, 2014 to collect arrears and levy 1 per cent cess on delayed payments and a service charge of Rs. 200 for fresh water tap connections, Mr. Murthy added.
However, the residents can pay the arrears in five instalments.
The Belagavi City Corporation council decided in November to collect arrears
The residents can pay them in five instalments
