The Times of India 18.08.2010
Withdraw excess water bill: Forum
CHANDIGARH: UT consumer forum on Tuesday directed municipal corporation to withdraw the excess water charges of Rs 1,07,809 demanded from the complainant for the water, which he never used.
Forum further directed MC to pay Rs 5,000 as compensation towards the mental and physical harassment caused to the complainant along with Rs 1,100 as cost of litigation.
Complainant Sumesh Chawla, a resident of Sector 40 B, had alleged that he had received a bill of Rs 1,12,909 as electricity, water and sewerage charges on January 5. The break-up was Rs 3,970 for electricity, and Rs 1,08,939 as water consumption and sewerage charges in which Rs 1,07,809 was shown as sundry charges for water consumption.
Chawla maintained that there had been no balance against his account. He was liable to pay Rs 1,039.50 only.
In their reply, municipal corporation stated that the complainant was a sub-GPA holder of SCO 69, Sector 20, Chandigarh. The temporary water connection was sanctioned by them for the said SCO on January 8, 1997. MC further submitted that the owner did not apply for the regular water connection after completion of the building despite being sent notices. Hence, the MC disconnected the supply on December 10, 2005.
MC further stated that it came to their notice on April 17, 2007, that the water connection in the said SCO had been restored without applying for the regular connection and so, they disconnected it on February 15, 2008.
Thereafter, during the inspection by vigilance department, it was found that the complainant had again defaulted and restored it. They disconnected it on September 24, 2008. The amount charged in the bill was in lieu of the bill incurred on the usage of water in the said premises.
Forum said the complainant is not the owner of the SCO and he has not used the said water for which he can be made liable to pay the charges.
Moreover, MC failed to show any rules and regulations under which this amount could be debited to the water and electricity of a GPA or sub-GPA holder, the forum added.
