The Deccan Chronicle                01.05.2013

64 MLD water flows unaccounted

Kochi: As the city thirsts, it is 64 million litre
of water flows unaccounted every day. When the Kerala Water Authority is
supplying 168 MLD water to the city, only 104 MLD is being billed. A
sizable quantity of the unaccounted water flows to unauthorised
connections. According to the Non-Revenue Water Management, the special
anti-theft squad of KWA, water theft and illegal connections have become
rampant in the city bludgeoning the revenue loss of the Authority.

“Following
our effective intervention, there is a considerable decrease in water
misuse and theft. Consumption of some major non-domestic consumers
increased from 30 kilo litre to 500 kilo litre, when we replaced the
faulty and forged metres. It means, the quantity of unbilled water might
be decreased significantly,” said K.M. Siddique, KWA assistant
executive engineer and chief of the NRWM unit.

The NRWM could
garner more than Rs 20 lakh from major defaulters. “Water theft is more
rampant in Kochi when compared to other cities in the state. Commercial
consumers including hotels and construction sites are the major law
breakers,” he added. Meanwhile, several defaulting non-domestic users,
though served with notices, are yet to pay the dues.

However, the
NRWM is imposing fine only on major offenders and not levying fine from
domestic consumers who have faulty metres. The officials have repaired
several tampered metres and prevented unauthorised drawing of water from
pipelines which helped to provide more water to the customers with
valid connections. Due to unauthorised water connections, those having
valid connections are deprived of water supply with remote areas in West
Kochi worst affected.

Though the increase in revenue can be
assessed only through a detailed survey, there is a definite decrease in
water theft and quantity of unaccounted water, said the NRWM chief.