CANACONA
While many residents in Canacona are furious with the huge water bills after a gap of six months, department officials have justified the billing as usage charges.
When contacted, Canacona PWD (Water Supply) Assistant Engineer Lester D'souza said the high billing is due to the new billing system introduced under the scheme of providing 16,000 litres of water supply free of cost.
“The delay in introducing the new billing system as well as deputation of PWD staff on election duties are the reasons for issuing the bills after 6 months in Canacona,” he said.
Asked to explain the high meter readings, D'Souza said: “People have either consumed water as per the recordings or have kept their taps open allowing air pressure to pass through thereby enabling meter to run.”
Explaining the new system of billing, D'Souza said the free 16,000 litres of water every month is only to consumers whose consumption is within 16 units a month.
“However, when the consumption goes beyond 16 Units but below 50 Units, Consumers are billed in a slab system (0-15m2 @ Rs 3.5, 15m2-25m2 @ Rs 9, 25m2-40m2 @ Rs 15, above 40m2 @ Rs 15 and above 50m2 @ a flat rate of Rs 25).”
“No free water supply is allowed once the monthly consumption is recorded beyond 16m2 units and all the units up to 50m2 units are billed as per the slab. Monthly units shown above 50m2 consumption, beginning 0.0m2 to whatever consumption is recorded are billed at a flat rate of Rs 25,” explained the Assistant Engineer.
