Mangaluru: MCC shocks citizens by sending exorbitant water bills


Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Jul 10: Most of the citizens of the city, who had complained to the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) about the non-receipt of water bill since the month of April, were in for a shock when they received the bills a few days ago.

Rakshith, a resident of Kavoor, who runs a hotel used to receive a water bill amounting to Rs 1,500 on an average every month. However, this time around he received a bill for Rs 18,000. Similarly, Vamana, a resident of Kunjathbail, who used to get a bill of Rs 80 every month was served a bill for Rs 850.

Apart from these instances, there are several people who have received unusually high amount on their water bills received this month.

Goof up due to untrained personnel

Ten years ago, a tender was given to private companies to provide water bills throughout the city. However, there were complaints that certain parts of the city were not getting the bills. In order to resolve this issue, the MCC assigned personnel from its malaria control unit to carry out this work.

As the contract with the private companies got over in the month of April 2018, the MCC gave this responsibility to the staff of the malaria control unit. Due to the assembly elections in May and the untrained new staff, it was not possible for the MCC to provide water bills to all the 60 wards of the corporation. In addition, two months of April and May were considered as the training period for the staff deputed from the malaria control unit.

The issuing of the bills has started on June 1. In the midst of all these chaos, the citizens are facing the brunt of astronomical bills.

Intention to increase the revenue

The MCC would have to bear an additional financial burden if the billing is outsourced to private companies. So the MCC thought that it would save cost if the personnel from its malaria control unit can do the work of issuing the water bill when they go for spraying of chemical to control malaria. So one malaria programme worker (MPW) was deputed for each ward.

Mayor instructs officers to resolve the issue

"I am aware of the differences in the water bills issued a few days ago. I will get information from the concerned officials to locate the source of the issue. All the officials will be instructed to take care in future to prevent the recurrence of the same," said K Bhaskar Moily, mayor of MCC.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Harold D'cunha, Mangalore, India.

    Wed, Jul 11 2018

    This is the benefit the citizen will receive when the staff is employed on recommendation but not on merit. And also, when the staff is not given proper training. In most of the government department, whether it is local or state, there is no accountability as from top to bottom are having lethargic attitude towards job commitment.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lionel Dsouza, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 11 2018

    I THINK THEY USED EVM'S INSTEAD OF BILLING MACHINES....
    WHERE ARE OUR NEWLY ELECTED MLA'S.....MODI'S STYLE REDEFINED....TO BE CONTINUED...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • vincent rodrigues, Bangaluru/Jatapadi

    Wed, Jul 11 2018

    This may be a system diffect which should have been noticed before sending the bills

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, dubai

    Wed, Jul 11 2018

    Government is spending high amount on our government officials..... Foreign made cars, accommodation, children schooling in good schools/colleges, free electricity/water etc. How the Government pay these expenses..... They have loot from people.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mona, Mangalore

    Wed, Jul 11 2018

    bill for water or petrol

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Antony, Mlr

    Wed, Jul 11 2018

    Well done smart city with smart bills. Thanks to Ramanath Rai.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • common man, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 10 2018

    The present water billing system of MCC for apartments is absurd. In our eight flats apartment we three residents staying paid rupees 34000/- for five years period, as in remaining flats people were not staying and only used to visit once in a year and so .The bill is, meter reading or flat 65 rupees per each flat multiplied by eight whichever amount is higher. Always we get flat system bill as our meter reading comes much less ,also because the reading is divided by no of flats in the building and not the occupied flats . Hence the charges comes to the lowest slab of rates and So we three had to pay always the flat system bill. With this we are paying for water which we didn't consume at all and also for bore well water which we used sometimes when water pressure is less and sufficient quantity is not made available by corporation . Like minimum payment for electricity when people are not staying in the flat,the minimum water charges can also be added to this and the concerned agency can debit this amount to MCC. So people who are staying in flats can pay as per actual meter reading only . With the present billing system In many fully not occupied apartments ,people may be wasting water so that the flat system of billing amount and meter reading amount nearing equal, though they have to pay for electricity for wasting water to pump this to overhead tank.

    DisAgree [1] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Karthik, Konaje

    Wed, Jul 11 2018

    Normally apartment buildings have one meter on the supply line and the water tariff is borne by all apartment owners (whether they live in the apartment or not) along with other common facilities which is called monthly maintenance bill. It's the building society's responsibility to implement this.

    DisAgree [1] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Sanjay Sherra, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 10 2018

    Malaria unit checking water meters instead of blood!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Jul 10 2018

    FEKUGIRI is now an Epidemic ...

    DisAgree [9] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Citizen, Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 10 2018

    Which government is ruling government my dear citizen?? Just name it..I will salute u

    DisAgree [1] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Jul 11 2018

    I am sure you know the meaning of Epidemic ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • sp shetty, dxb

    Tue, Jul 10 2018

    What else to expect from Congress JDS Govt.

    Now people who click dislikes are the same people who blame Modi for local issues of state govt. LOL

    DisAgree [52] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sandesh, Mangalore, Oman

    Tue, Jul 10 2018

    Oh, now all Congress and JDS members are sitting at corporation office to prepare water bills ? I din't know that. So they send you home ?

    DisAgree [4] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Truth Teller, Karnataka

    Tue, Jul 10 2018

    They were from Yeddy era and chaddi Less people! It will take another 10 years for the congress government to clear the mess!

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Deva, Pilar

    Tue, Jul 10 2018

    3 months Mangaluru Citizens no need to pay any Water bill, Water is reaching your door step even reaching kitchen & Bed Rooms too...it's benefit of living in smart Cities...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • John R Lobo, Kaikamba / Mangalore

    Tue, Jul 10 2018

    Hats off MCC,

    After seeing the bills Mangaloreans got " CHALI JWARA " without Malaria..

    DisAgree [1] Agree [39] Reply Report Abuse


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