Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) is set to waive off a major chunk of the outstanding water bills in slums. The move could see the board undercut its revenue while relieving many consumers.
The eight elected ward members, along with Chief Executive Officer of the board, met last week to discuss proposals to solve long-pending water billing issues.
During the meeting it was resolved to offer a one-time settlement to consumers with outstanding amounts, and also lower monthly water charges to Rs. 160 from Rs. 315 for non-RCC structures and RCC structures smaller than G+2 in slums.
Consequently, an RCC structure with ground and first floors in a slum would benefit from the exemption and be treated on a par with a non-RCC structure. According to the new measures, consumers in slums can settle outstanding amounts by paying Rs. 5,000 or a quarter of the outstanding amount if it exceeds Rs. 5,000.
The issue of pending water bills has pervaded the board for long, with every board meeting witnessing protests from consumers alleging irregular water supply and harassment by the Cantonment’s bill collectors.
Elected ward members who mooted the idea said they are bent on resolving outstanding issues but will selectively apply the exemptions.
“The billing exemptions will be made case by case and is not a blanket exemption for all,” said member of ward 5, J. Ramakrishna. He said that the exact outstanding amount due to the board is yet to be precisely determined.
Water dues
If revenue matters discussed in the past board meetings and the estimates with the water department of the board are any indication, water dues to the board from its consumers could exceed Rs. 100 crore, most of which is said to be from consumers in slums.
Collection of dues of over the last one year have helped the Cantonment Board shore up its revenue to meet the monthly average of Rs. 1.5 lakh water expenditure incurred for obtaining supply from Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply Sewerage Board (HMWSSB), electricity and maintenance.
Officials express apprehensions over how the board would meet its expenses with the new measures. Consumers, meanwhile, have time until November 15 to avail the one-time settlement offer to settle dues.
