Minister for Water Resources N.K.Premachandran said here on Thursday that the Kerala Water Authority would introduce automatic cash payment machines for consumers to remit their bills.
Speaking after inaugurating the new e- payment and e- tendering systems of KWA at a function held here, he said the automatic cash payment machines would accept cash and issue a receipt for the payment. The machines would be introduced in three months time. They would obviate the need for a credit card or a net banking account required for the e- payment system.
The Minister said the improved e- tendering system would help to eliminate corruption and speed up drinking water projects taken up by KWA. "Rival contractors indulge in unhealthy practices, leading to corruption in the tendering process. The e- tendering system is designed to address this problem. It is expected to help bona fide contractors to succeed in a bid and keep out unhealthy practices. The tender process can be limited to days instead of months".
Mr.Premachandran said the Government had decided to extend the e- tendering system to the Irrigation department also. He announced that the computerisation of the KWA would to be completed in a year.
The Minister inaugurated the revised website of KWA. He also handed over the keys of four new vehicles acquired by KWA for the Blue Brigade emergency response team.
Presiding over the function, Dr.A.Jayatilak, chairman, KWA and secretary, Water Resources said moves were afoot to introduce mobile payment system for KWA consumers. They will also be issued SMS alerts for payment of bills, he said.
KWA managing director Susan Jacob, technical member T.P.Mohanlal, chief engineers and president of the Federation of Residents Associations, Thiruvananthapuram (FRAT) Sasidharan Nair were present on the occasion.
Mr.Premachandran later handed over the receipts of three consumers who remitted their bills using the e- payment system.
