The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) is set to name and shame residents with illegal water connections who fail to get them regularised by June 5.
After a survey in Ward 1 revealed 500 illegal water connections and 450 houses with two connections, the SCB has threatened residents with action. Those with one illegal connection should pay Rs.15,000 to get it regularised, while multiple connections are being disconnected. Property owners are being told they would be issued penalty notices. The names of those who fail to follow the directive by June 5 will have their displayed on the SCB website.
“When illegal connections were found, our staff informed residents about the deadline for regularisation. After June 5, we will upload all details of defaulters to our website,” said M. Raj Kumar, Superintendent Water Works. He added that multiple connections were being disconnected but the penalty amount has not been decided yet. He cited The Cantonments Act that gives the board authority to realise penalty and also take legal action against defaulters.
The board is currently undertaking surveys in other wards. On Wednesday, the survey was able to detect 60 illegal connections in 150 houses in Kakaguda of Ward five. Similar surveys will be taken up in remaining wards.
For the residents, however, the board’s latest move addresses just one half of the problem.
“Punitive action should be taken against erring residents but the board should also note that multiple or even single illegal connections cannot be availed without connivance or cognizance of cantonment field staff,” said V. Ramanaiah, a resident of Sikh Village and member of Confederation of Cantonment Residents Welfare Societies.
