You may face FIR for using tap water for construction purpose

Nagpur: Lacking powers to levy penalty, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has found provisions to register FIR with the police if anyone is found using tap water for construction purposes. The civic body will also disconnect water supply in such cases.
Chairman of NMC water works consultative committee Vijay Zalke and executive engineer Shweta Banerjee told TOI directives have been given to zone delegates to register FIRs against people using tap water for construction purposes. “FIR will be registered under section 311 and 312 of Maharashtra Municipal Corporations (MMC) Act. Considering severe water crisis, we worked to find provisions to take action. Use in construction is wastage of potable water. It also deprives others of sufficient drinking water,” they said.
Through private operator Orange City Water Private Limited (OCW), NMC had formed zone-wise squads in May to check illegal connections, use of water from residential connection for commercial or construction purposes, and booster pumps used to draw more water quickly. Now, directives have been given to these squads to thoroughly check all construction activities going on across the city.
Also, NMC’s Nuisance Detection Squad has been asked to keep monitoring the situation.
Banerjee said working of squads is effective. “Squads unearthed around 2,000 illegal connections, of which 400 connections were disconnected, and 1,600 regularized. Some 215 booster pumps were also seized in last two months,” she said.
Banerjee also said water supply to three customers was disconnected at Manish Nagar and Ashi Nagar last month for using water from commercial connections for construction.
At that time, NMC was reportedly unaware of provisions in the MMC Act to register FIR.
The squads are also swiftly acting on complaints received from citizens or corporators. A resident of Pandey Layout sent a message to NMC and OCW officials informing about a household using waste for construction purposes. The squad reached the spot but water was being drawn from well.
Zalke said people should help NMC by giving information to NMC, OCW or on helpline of OCW if tap water is used for construction.
Unfortunately, NMC has no powers to take action against wastage of water. The water bylaws and MMC Act lack provision for levying penalty, disconnection or FIR for wastage of water by means of washing vehicles, using in lawns, gardening, overflowing on roads or in drains etc.
Zalke said provisions for action will be made soon for wastage of water. “NMC is studying water bylaws of central and state governments. We will adopt them in case there is a provisions for action. Else, we will amend NMC’s water bylaws,” he said.
NMC has also started to check water sources of swimming pools. Inspection was done at swimming pools of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) at Ambazari, a school at Ramdaspeth, and Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). The squads found NIT using water from Ambazari lake and remaining two from their own sources.