MOHALI: In an entire week’s campaign against water wastage, the municipal corporation has found only one violator. The three-year data shows only 187 challans in 1,095 days, at a consistent weekly average of one.
Every year, before the challans, the MC issues a general warning to the water wasters but hardly every carries out its threat. The orders remain on paper and the fines are a mere formality, so the menace goes unabated throughout the year. In the bygone three years, the civic body collected a revenue of Rs 1.44 lakh out of those 187challans. The amount was up to Rs 500 for second violation, and Rs 1,500 for the third but records show that no one’s water supply was cut.
Yet again, the MC has issued those warnings, that restrictions come into effect from April 15. From January 1, it has taken over the duties of water supply and sewerage from Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) for sectors 66 to 69 and 76 to 80, and now challans are coming the way of its residents.
The watering of lawns and the washing of courtyards and vehicles is prohibited between 5.30am and 8.30am. MC executive engineer Harpreet Singh said: “We will form inspection teams within a week. Any consumer caught violating the rules the fourth time will lose water connection without notice. Getting it restored will cost the submission of Rs 5,000 along with an affidavit.”
The executive engineer said that for the first violation, the offender will get a notice of warning, and for a second, a fine of up to Rs 1,000. The fine for the third violation is up to Rs 2,000 and one should hope not to get a fought ticket. Still, the residents of Mohali claim that the campaign is mere eyewash and the public warning mean little. They say even the MC doesn’t take its declarations seriously, so why should they, and they also accuse the MC of pick and choose in issuing challan.
Phase 3A water consumer Rajinder Singh said: “Last year, the civic body issued only 31 challans in the entire two months of ban. All people on my street are out washing their cars in the morning and no MC team has ever bothered to ask.” Confronted, executive engineer Harpreet said: “This time, we will not spare any violator. We want no scarcity of drinking water. Those using motors to lift water directly from the pipelines will lose their connection, as the practice is illegal.”