MARGAO
Stressing on accountability and promising to start a Twitter handle, Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Nilesh Cabral on Wednesday said he is even ready to increase the provision for free water from 16,000 litres to 18,000 litres but has made a fervent plea to the people to curtail the water usage and avail of the free water scheme.
He also promised that the PWD would issue the water bills on monthly basis to facilitate people to pay the bills without any burden.
Reminding the people that it costs the government around Rs 30-40 to treat and supply a unit of water to the consumers, Cabral said the water received by the people is at a subsided rate.
He also disclosed plans to tide over the losses by plugging the revenue leakage, which is pegged at a whopping 40 per cent.
“We understand the sentiments of the people when they come out to protest the hefty bills. I am trying to streamline the entire system. People should reduce their water usage and avail of the free water scheme. I am even ready to increase the provision of free water from 16,000 litres to 18,000 litres a month, but people should take steps to reduce the use of water and avail of the free scheme”, he said, adding “We will study the existing water tariff and will come out with a solution”.
Stressing accountability in the functioning of the PWD department, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral has cautioned contractors that he would blacklist them if they fail to deliver and do not raise the final bill.
“I will not hesitate to blacklist contractors, who have not executed the tendered works. The National Highway projects have no problem in respect of funds. I will put the contractors of the NH projects first, by seeking a list of projects such as bridges and culverts. Contactors who have not started road hot mixing works will be blacklisted”, he said.
Stressing on the final bills, Cabral said he would ask the NH officials to submit a list of the number of contractors who have not raised the final bills. “I would like to tell the PWD officials that my working system will be different. When I am accountable, I expect all the officials to be accountable. I am not accountable for what has happened in the past, but I am accountable in the future”, he said, adding “I am an engineer, and I know how to get work done. I tried to improve the power situation and I put my ideas in writing to the Chief Minister to improve the power situation”, he added.
