The Times of India            28.11.2013  

Kerala Water Authority to act tough on water thefts

KOZHIKODE: The Kerala Water Authority is set to crack the whip against water theft and excessive water use following widespread complaints of illegal water lifters operating unchecked in the city.

The KWA has decided to revive and strengthen its existing Anti-Water Theft Squad, which has been in the sleeping mode for the past two years.

The move was taken in the wake of daily complaints over phone from people residing in the city limit about the unavailability of water due to the excessive water use by high-rise buildings and business establishments.

The KWA officials believe that the excessive use of water by few users above the permissible limit was the main reason for the existing water scarcity currently experienced in the city.

KWA said they have been receiving two to three calls daily complaining about the unavailability of water.

The new Anti-Water Theft Squad has six officials in the squad. The squad will carry out door-to-door visit to check the meter reading and tampering, whether the consumer is using excessive water than the permissible level, type of water connection and whether there are any additional connections.

The squad will conduct checks at construction sites, flats, hospitals, hotels, shops, institutions, factories to check whether they are using water above the permissible limits. It will also carry out door-to-door visit to verify the address given by the consumers to upgrade the data bank of consumers before the commissioning of the Japan International cooperation assisted drinking water project.

People residing in Vengerikkadu, Kudamolikunnu, Palazhi, Ponnamkodakunnu and Chalakkoduvayal have been complaining about the unavailability of water due to the excessive use of water by the people residing at the high-rise buildings and business establishments. KWA has decided to act tough after realizing that illegal tapping of water from the drinking water pipes round-the year was responsible for the water scarcity.

KWA said it has been distributing drinking water to the city from Mavoor and Muzhikkal pumping stations. The city is in need of 174 mld (millions litres per day) water but KWA could supply only 70 to 80 mld. The frequent disruptions, leakages and theft in the distribution network also reduce the water supply. Around 2,000 public taps are there in the Kozhikode corporation limit alone. Of which, 903 public taps fall under the Kozhikode distribution sub-division II. It has a total of 17,311 domestic and 1,050 non-domestic connections in its limit. Instances of water theft were reported at Palakkode last year and at Irringadanppally recently.

P C Biju, assistant executive engineer said, "Site inspection will help to nab those who are involved in water theft denying water to the actual consumers.

On the measures taken to clear the pending arrears, he said that a total of 674 consumers are yet to clear their pending arrears of Rs 5,000 and above. "We have already disconnected 50 domestic connections within three days of house visits. The division has pending arrears to the tune of Rs 5 crore. We have already forwarded 83 list of consumers who needs to remit above Rs 2 lakh water charge pending for the past three years to the collector requesting revenue recovery actions,'' he said.