Chandigarh: 345 Challans Issued for Water Wastage, Nine Connections Cut
In a stringent measure against water wastage during the summer months, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) has issued fines to residents for wasting potable water. Since April 15, 345 residents have been fined ₹5,512 each for various violations. The MC has also disconnected the water connections of nine violators and issued notices to 2,014 others for issues such as overflowing tanks and leaking pipes.
The drive, part of the MC's annual initiative to conserve water, has identified a total of 2,359 violations between April 15 and June 30. These violations include:
Watering lawns during the morning supply
Using booster pumps on the main water supply line
Leaks in coolers and water meters
Overflowing from overhead and underground tanks
Municipal commissioner Anindita Mitra stated that repeat offenders have had their notices converted into fines. Additionally, fines for water wastage have increased by 5% this year, from ₹5,250 to ₹5,512. Unpaid fines will be added to water bills.
Chandigarh's current population of approximately 12.9 lakh receives 245 litres of water per capita per day (LPCD), significantly higher than the ideal consumption of 150 LPCD. The city loses about 38% of its water supply due to undetected leakages, theft, metering losses, and other issues. This loss is much higher than the standard norm of 15%.
In the fiscal year 2023-24, the MC spent ₹244.7 crore on water supply but generated only ₹138.58 crore in revenue, resulting in a deficit of ₹106.12 crore. For the fiscal year 2024-25, the MC expects to earn ₹160 crore from water bills.
The MC's crackdown on water wastage aims to mitigate this deficit and promote water conservation. By addressing undetected leakages and penalizing wastage, the civic body hopes to reduce the high percentage of non-revenue water and ensure a more sustainable water supply system for the city.
The Chandigarh municipal corporation has intensified its efforts to curb water wastage, issuing fines and notices to violators and disconnecting repeat offenders' water connections. With significant water losses and financial deficits, these measures are crucial for promoting conservation and ensuring a sustainable water supply in the city.
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