Paying the water tax has become a taxing affair for the residents of Ekkaduthangal. Inadequate number of staff at the Depot 170, Zone 13 of the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSB) has lead to a situation that these residents travel to K.K. Nagar, Adyar and or Saidapet depot to play Water and Sewerage Tax.
The CMWSSB Depot 170 covers houses with Metro Water connections, in Gandhi Nagar, Ambal Nagar, Kalai Magal Nagar, Balaji Nagar, Visalatachi Nagar, and Labour Colony, Ekkaduthangal.
Residents, living in these localities cannot make their bill payment there. Bill payment is supposed to be a centralised process — the tax can be paid at any of the CMWSSB Offices — but these residents are led to believe otherwise. “Whenever we go to K.K. Nagar, Adyar or Saidapet depot, we are asked by the officials and staff to pay the taxes at the Ekkaduthangal depot,” residents said.
“When we take up the problem we face at these depots with the authorities, they ask us to represent the matter to the higher officials at CMWSSB. We are forced to pay a fine of two percent for being unable to pay the tax on time,” they say.
The staff in-charge for collection of sewerage taxes has been transferred.
Residents say, at least the Ekkaduthangal Depot Office can inform their counterparts at the other depots about the issue or open special counters for residents coming under the jurisdiction of Depot 170.
Despite complaints, no action has been taken till. The residents say they are forced to beg to the staff at the other depots to accept the tax money.
When contacted, CMWSSB officials said, “The staff in-charge for collection of Water and Sewerage Tax at Depot 170 has been transferred. Soon, a new official will be appointed. The bill can be paid at any of the tax collection offices across the city. Though the staff and the officials at Depot 170 are willing to help the residents pay the taxes, including collecting money and submitting the payment receipts next day, the residents are not willing to co-operate.”
CMWSSB have asked consumers to pay water and sewerage tax without fail.
It has warned that non-payment could lead to sealing of the premises, apart from disconnection of service lines.
