The Hindu        29.11.2011

MCC to conduct survey of water connections

Huge gulf between listed connections and the actual buildings

Mangalore City Corporation has proposed to conduct a comprehensive survey to list and document water connections in its jurisdiction.

The Standing Committee for Taxation, Finance and Appeals at the corporation which met on Saturday approved the proposal and decided to conduct the survey by dividing 60 wards into six zones, according to the chairman of the committee Sharat Kumar.

Mr. Kumar told The Hindu on Monday that the committee decided to entrust the survey to six agencies which would be selected by inviting bids. He said that water section at the corporation had a list of 75,000 connections. But according to door numbers issued by the corporation, there were 1.60 lakh establishments (buildings). Of these all may not have water connections . But the vast mismatch has forced the corporation to propose for a survey as the civic body was incurring loss in terms of water revenue.

The chairman said the scope of the survey would mainly cover finding out illegal connections, authorised connections waiting to get sequence number, and connections without any problems.

The chairman said that some people had availed water connections by following due procedure. But the civic body was yet to give them sequence number for the billing purpose.

Mr. Kumar said the committee did not agree to a proposal of authorising a non-governmental organisation to conduct the survey.

Incidentally, when a subject on the proposal came before the corporation council (elected body) in its meeting last month, the council referred the subject to the Standing Committee.

Meanwhile, a senior official told The Hindu that since the committee had approved the proposal, the corporation would shortly invite bids to select the agencies for the survey.

The corporation official said the scope of the survey would cover finding out whether all establishments had access to underground drainage network.

The Hindu        15.11.2011

GMC's tough stand on water connections irks builders

Water tankers being used to fill the sumps in apartments in Krishna Nagar in Guntur — Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar

The cup of woes for the residents who have preferred the safety of apartments in recent months is getting fuller. Most of these apartments are now without water and are dependant on water tankers. The Guntur Municipal Corporation, which has been clearing the building plans in a jiffy for some months, is accused by builders of being tightfisted when it comes to providing water connection.

“There are 60 to 70 apartments, which are without water connection. We are getting tired of making rounds to the GMC's office to get things done. We will soon meet the Commissioner and submit a written memorandum,” says Kolla Syam, secretary of Builders' Welfare Association. The apartments, which have come up recently at Krishna Nagar, Chandramouli Nagar, Vidya Nagar Extension Colony, S.V.N. Colony, and Gujjangundla have been the worst hit.

The GMC collects Rs.47,200 per connection which could meet the requirements of 16 flats. If an apartment has more than 16 flats, the builder has to apply for another connection.

Latest guidelines

“We are depending on tankers to meet our requirements. Borewells too are not working as groundwater levels in most areas have been plummeting,” says Sd. Nyub Kamal, a resident of Krishna Nagar. Each tanker costs Rs.750 forcing flat owners to foot the monthly water bills in addition to the half-yearly water tax. But money is not the issue here as builders are concerned with the latest guidelines which make it mandatory for all apartments to have an Occupancy Certificate (OC) to apply for a water connection under the guidelines as per the G.O. Ms. No. 678.

“There are many builders who have not submitted OCs issued by the Town Planning Department,” says Executive Engineer, GMC, Surendra. Issuance of OC has placed the onus on builders to construct the building as per the revised building regulations.

The GMC officials also aver that water connections will not be given for those residential owners who have not applied for the Building Penalisation Scheme (BPS).