Gujarat: Rs 85 fine per 1,000 litres of water stolen

GANDHINAGAR: Water thieves will now have to pay a fine of Rs 85 for every 1,000 litres of stolen water. The state government notified rules under the Gujarat Domestic Water Supply (Protection) Act, which was passed last year amid vociferous opposition by the Congress.
The fine of Rs 85 for theft of 1,000 litres of water is significant, given that users are charged Rs 2 for using 1,000 litres of water in panchayat areas, Rs 4 in areas under municipalities and Rs 6 in areas under municipal corporations. Industrial unit pay Rs 42.5 per thousand litres of water.

The government has withdrawn the provision for two years imprisonment for those found indulging in water theft.
The Act, passed in 2019, said domestic water users could face imprisonment of up to two years for water theft, but the rules under it have no mention of imprisonment. Civic authorities, however, can ask for installation of water meters and take punitive action against those who illegally draw water.
The Narmada, Water Resources, Water Supply and Kalpasar department (Water Supply) recently notified the rules and the state government has given powers to municipal corporations and municipalities to appoint nodal officers who will check and act against water theft in their jurisdictions.
Municipal corporations and municipalities have already begun strict water metering at source.
Department secretary Dhananjay Dwivedi said that under the Act, all local bodies (rural and urban) will have to appoint water assessing officers and begin strict auditing of water use.
“Domestic water supply will have to be measured through meters or other scientific methods like pipe size and flow level. Domestic water supply users will also include all kinds of commercial establishments,” the official said.
He added that the department has asked all domestic users to have water meters and initiate water auditing.
“Anyone found over using or over drawing water compared to standard norms will have to pay fine which will be double the industrial water supply rates,” he said.
Under the new rules, people indulging in water theft will end up paying a sizable fine as overdrawing water for a prolonged period of time will multiply the fine.