RAJKOT: Authorities at Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) have decided to constitute 50 teams of officials for effective monitoring of water distribution in the city. The teams comprising engineers and technical staff will keep an eye on water thefts and direct pumping from pipelines.

RMC commissioner Ajay Bhadoo said the teams would go to each ward and check both quantity and quality of drinking water being supplied.

"The decision has been taken to strengthen our water supply system in the time of scarcity and maintain equal water distribution. Our teams would check leakage of water at valve chambers, wastage, illegal water connections and direct pumping by electric motors in the city,'' Bhadoo told TOI.

He said if anyone is found using electric motors to pump water, RMC officials would seize their motors. If the act is repeated, RMC would lodge a police complaint against the culprit.

RMC sources said there are several instances of people using electric motors to draw water directly from the pipelines. This affects equal water distribution system. RMC has already imposed water cuts and it is supplying water for 20 minutes every alternate day in the city.