The Hindu 07.12.2010
Illegal connections: water board to crack the whip
J.S. Ifthekhar
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To recruit ex-servicemen to unearth illegal connections |
Ex-servicemen’s job is to file cases against wilful defaulters
Authorities believe there are at least 50,000 illegal connections
Hyderabad: No quarters asked and none given. That’s the toughened
stand of Water Board now. It has decided to show no mercy to consumers
who have illegal water connections.
In its fight against the lawbreakers, the Water Board will not trust
its own staff lest they have a soft corner for some consumers.
In a change of tack, it has resolved to take the help of external watchdogs to unearth illegal connections and take action.
Recruitments
The water board is in the process of recruiting 10 ex-servicemen, 30
home guards besides three military engineering service officers who have
experience in water and sewerage.
The idea is that these retired personnel will have no local
obligations and wouldn’t mind acting tough against such illegal
connections.
The Water Board has already written to the Sainik Welfare Board and
the Commandant of Home Guards for sending their men. “They will be with
us shortly,” said K. Ashok Reddy, executive director, HMWSSB.
The water board now has a lone Inspector, two police constables and
seven home guards – hardly sufficient to keep watch on the city which
has increased from 170 sq. km to 560 sq. km.
The number of water connections too have shot up from 4 lakh to 7.5 lakh, particularly in the municipalities skirting the city.
The water board had high hopes on the recently concluded voluntary disclosure scheme.
But it resulted in only 10,000 consumers coming forward to regularise their connections.
Authorities believe there are at least 50,000 more illegal
connections which need to be regularised. Therefore, the plan to
strengthen the vigilance wing.
Ex-servicemen’s role
Ex-servicemen have no axe to grind and they are expected to act firmly.
Their job will be to go after illegal connections, file cases and follow up wilful big defaulters.
Based on their report the water board might also initiate action against its delinquent filed staff.
