Regularize illegal water connection Before Dec 31-BWSBB Bangalore
The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSBB) has instructed all citizens to get their water connection registered and illegal by 31st December or else face criminal proceedings which will cause imprisonment of up to two and a half years.
Due to the growing number of illegal water connection in the city of Bengaluru brought to notice by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has issued a circular on Monday asking people to get their water and sanitation connections regularised before the 31st of December.
Failing to get one’s water connection registered will attract an imprisonment of up to 2 and half years under a criminal case.
The BWSBB board has been repeatedly urging and reminding people to get their water and sanitary connections regularised to which there has been no effective response. The drive has been going on since January of 2015.
In a previous drive of 2013, the BWSBB had enforced groundwater rules that called for people to register their bore wells to ensure proper monitoring of groundwater exploitation.
Illegal Water connections:
An estimated 7.5 lakh illegal water connections in the city existing which almost equates to the total number of registered water connections.
Due to the growing number of illegal water users in the city, around 48 per cent out of the 1300 million litres per day (MLD) of Cauvery water which is drawn for the city goes unaccounted.
Violation of Rules:
As per the circular released by the BWSBB, a minimum penalty of Rs. 2000 will be imposed on defaulters and could also lead to imprisonment of as much as 2 years and six months. This would be based on the level of irregularity in water consumption.
Post Deadline:
The deadline for registration of water connections for citizens has been set for December 31st. Post the deadline set, the BWSBB staff will be undertaking a door-to-door survey to ensure that connections have been legalised. Officials of the BWSBB stated, for those failing to abide by the set rules will have actions taken against them as per Section 108 of the BWSBB ACT 1964. According to this Act, the defaulter will attract a penalty or imprisonment or both.
Source: The Times of India
Bengaluru Water Supply, Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board, BWSBB, BWSBB ACT 1964, BWSSB, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
