MM: Govt bodies owe Rs 90 cr in water charges to BMC : Aug 24, 2007

Govt bodies owe Rs 90 cr in water charges to BMC
And private companies owe another Rs 431 crore to the civic body
SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI

Government bodies, including the police, railways, PWD, MHADA, are among
those who have not paid water charges regularly to the Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation (BMC). The outstanding now adds up to Rs 524 crore and
is close to the annual revenue of the BMC’s hydraulic department, which is
about Rs 600 crore.

An audit revealed the outstanding includes Rs 82.11 crore from the
police, railways, public works department, Bombay Port Trust, MHADA; Rs 431
crore from private companies; and Rs 9.49 crore from government bodies like
Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). The dues comprise water charges, rent for
water meters and sewerage charges.

NCP corporator Niwaz Wanu says, “If the BMC recovers the dues, tax
payers can be spared the burden of a loan to fund the Middle Vaitarna
project, which is aimed at augmenting water supply to the city.”

Madhukar Kamble, chief, hydraulic department, says the civic body is
serious about recovering the long-pending dues. “A consultative committee
comprising civic officers, a legal expert and retired judges will be set up
to settle disputed bills and recover dues. We are even considering
disconnection of water connections,” he said.

WHY THE LOAN?

The BMC is to contribute Rs 664.75 crore of the estimated Rs 1,329 crore for
the middle-Vaitarna project that includes laying a pipeline from Belnala to
Agai, a tunnel, a water treatment plant at Bhandup and a pumping station.
The civic body has decided to raise the money by taking loans from private
firms and the World Bank.

Defaulters include police, PWD, MbPT, MHADA, railways and TMC

Publication:Mumbai Mirror ; Date:Aug 24, 2007; Section:City; Page Number:3

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