Mangaluru: Following complaints from water consumers about irregularities and discrepancies in water supply billing, Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has decided to hold monthly Water Adalats.
Mayor Divakar said the city corporation has received several complaints related to inflated or delayed billing. Some domestic consumers have complained about getting bills in the range of Rs10,000 to Rs25,000. The mayor said people may submit their complaints and the same will be taken up at Water Adalats for redressal. “Consumers should submit an application with details regarding discrepancies in their water bills before November 5. The applications will be scrutinized at Water Adalat sessions. Action will be taken by officials to sort out issues during the sessions,” Divakar said, adding that Adalats will be held every month.
Earlier, tariff for drinking water supply was modified when MCC was under the district administration’s administrative control. Accordingly, in the first slab (from 0 to 8,000 litres), the tariff was Rs 7 per 1,000 litres. In the second slab (from 8,000 litres to 15,000 litres), the tariff was Rs 9 per 1,000 litres. In the third slab (from 15,000 to 25,000 litres), the tariff was Rs 11 per 1,000 litres and Rs 13 per 1,000 litres for all consumers whose consumption crossed 25,000 litres per month.
During an MCC council meeting held in August this year, the tariff was revised based on complaints from general public. As per the revised tariff, the minimum charge will be Rs 60 for the consumption of 10,000 litres per month. In the second slab (from 10,000 litres to 15,000 litres), the tariff will be Rs 7 per 1,000 litres. In the third slab (from 15,000 litres to 25,000 litres), the tariff will be Rs 9 per 1,000 litres. In the fourth slab (from 25,000 litres to 30,000 litres), the tariff will be Rs 11 per 1,000 litres and Rs 13 for all consumers whose consumption crosses 30,000 litres per month.
However, the civic body has been receiving complaints about even small families getting bills upwards of Rs10,000 with dues of the pandemic-induced lockdown period.