Urban News

Sumesh Chawla, a resident of Sector 40, in a complaint against the officials of the public health department of the Municipal Corporation had stated that he received a combined bill dated January 5, 2010, of electricity and water and sewerage charges to a sum of Rs 1,12,909. This included Rs 3,970 as consumption charges for electricity and Rs 1,08,939 as water consumption and sewerage charges in which Rs 1,07,809 had been shown as sundry charges for water consumption. As there had been no balance against his account for the previous period he was liable to pay Rs 1,039.50 only.

Notice was served to the officials, including superintending engineer, executive engineer and SDO of the public health department.

In their written reply the officials submitted that the complainant was a sub GPA holder of an SCO in Sector 20. The temporary water connection was sanctioned by the civic body for the SCO on January 8, 1997. The owner did not apply for regular water connection after completion of the building despite being receiving number of notices from their department and on December 10, 2005, it was disconnected. In 2007, it came to their notice that the water connection in the SCO had been restored without having applied for regular connection and, therefore, it was disconnected on February 15, 2008. 

Thereafter again on inspection by the vigilance department, it was found that the complainant again defaulted and restored the connection that was again disconnected. The reply further stated the amount charged in the bill was in lieu of the bill incurred on the usage of water in the said premises.

The forum, however, stated that the officials withdraw the sundry charges demanded from the complainant and pay him Rs 5,000 as compensation towards the mental and physical harassment caused to him along with Rs 1,100 as costs of litigation.