The Times of India 04.09.2012
Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation launches amnesty scheme to help citizens clear water bill arrears
PUNE: The water supply department of the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has started an amnesty scheme to enable citizens to clear their water bill arrears with certain concessions.
Citizens who avail the amnesty scheme benefit will only have to pay the average annual bill for the outstanding period, with 12% interest and 20% fine amount.
Speaking to mediapersons on Monday, the municipal commissioner, Shrikar
Pardeshi, said that the citizens will have to apply for the reduced
bill arrears before November 30.
Pardeshi said citizens, who
have not installed water meters and have received bills that are double
or triple the average annual bill, will first have to install water
meters at their own expense before November 30 and then apply for the
amnesty scheme. The citizens have to install the PCMC-approved water
meters only, which cost around Rs 1,700 per meter. They will also have
to pay Rs 1,200 deposit to the civic body.
Citizens, who had
earlier paid the fines due to non-payment of bills, can apply to the
civic body under the amnesty scheme and get a reduction on the bill.
Pardeshi said if the citizens do not take the benefit of the amnesty
scheme and do not install water meters, then their water connections
will be discontinued. The civic body will lodge criminal complaints with
the police if any unauthorized connection is detected later.
Citizens, who have complaints about faulty water meters, should either
install new meters or get them repaired and apply for the amnesty
scheme. The applicants will be given a monthly water bill for three
months after installing the new meters. The bill for the earlier outstanding period will be as per the average of the three-month bill.
If the citizens who have complaints about water meters do not install
new meters or repair them, the civic body will disconnect their water
connections.
Similarly, if domestic consumers feel they are
charged as per commercial rates even after completion of the residential
building, they should produce documents such as completion certificate,
or property tax bills.
