The Centre had given approval to 24X7 water supply project on February 13, 2009, at a cost of Rs387.86 crore. The project was to complete by April this year. But according to the revised schedule, it will take two more years to complete the project.

Under the 24X7 project, the NMC has to install new water meters in place of defunct ones and new connections absolutely free of cost. The same was also done in the pilot project which was implemented in some parts of Dharampeth Zone. The NMC implemented the project by handing over the entire water works of the city to a private operator - Orange City Water Limited (OCWL) in November 2011 but later revised it to March this year. With the implementation of the project, it is understood that the new water meters should be installed free of cost.

According to the information provided by the NMC officials and plumbers, around 60 new water meters are installed every day in city. About the expenses on new meters, the officials said that the plumbers are collecting Rs1,300 per meter from the citizens. It raises question mark as to why the NMC is collecting the charges for new water meter.

Also the actual charges being taken by the plumbers to replace a defunct meter with a new one is very high. A resident of Abhyankar Nagar went to the NMC's Laxmi Nagar Zone to replace a defunct meter. The person said that he was asked to pay Rs2,500 to the plumber. "Staff at the zone office told me to contact the plumber as process is executed through him," he said.

"Rs1,300 is taken for purchase of new meter and Rs250 for its testing. Plumber takes additional charge of for installation of the meter," engineers at the zone office said.

But, according to the orders passed in 2009 by the then municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta, the registered plumbers can charge Rs250 for installation of new meters as they have "to do some hard work". . But there is no scope of any 'hard work' while replacing the defunct meter with new. Still, the plumbers are charging Rs950 for the work. This again had raised a serious question mark over the way work is being done.

Speaking to TOI, leader of ruling party Praveen Datke said, "Person who is getting average bill wants to install new meter. But the NMC is not at all compelling anyone to replace the defunct meters. If we start installing the new meters free of cost before providing water 24X7, it may result in an uproar. If anyone doesn't want to change the defunct meter then it will be replaced when the respective area is covered under the project.