The Hindu       14.07.2016 

MCC is due a whopping Rs. 134 crore as water tax

More than 3,520 water connections were given to various commercial
establishments in Mysuru and they owe thecivic body a total of Rs. 30
crore.— file photo

Citizens, government offices, industries and commercial
establishments in the city owe a total of Rs. 134 crore to the Mysuru
City Corporation (MCC) as water tax.

MCC has now
decided to take up a drive to collect dues from consumers. It has also
resolved to stop supplying water to those who fail to pay at least part
of their dues and regularise their connections. The civic body will take
help from the police to do so in sensitive areas.

Mayor B.L. Bhyrappa and L.N. Anand, executive engineer, Vani Vilas Water Works, told
The Hindu
that there were over 1.59 lakh connections in 65 wards in the city. Of
them, 1.39 lakh are active. They said domestic consumers have dues in
the range of Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 5,000. MCC is due a total of Rs. 11 crore
from them.

There are over 310 water connections given
to industries, who owe a total of Rs. 7 crore. Similarly, over 3,520
connections were given to commercial establishments and they owe a total
of Rs. 30 crore. Meanwhile, non-domestic consumers such as government
offices, school and colleges owe Rs.16 crore. There are 6,258 such
connections.

The mayor said MCC wanted to collect
dues from citizens without burdening them, and hence is allowing the
consumers to pay in instalments if their total due exceeds Rs. 5,000.

Similarly,
he said, poor people who want to regularise their water connections
(for a fee of Rs. 3,150) can pay in instalments of Rs. 500.

Mr.
Anand said there are more than 30,000 unauthorised water connections in
the city, a majority being in Narasimharaja constituency.