Chandigarh: Replace faulty water meters or pay double charges

Having identified 42,332 defective water meters across the city, the Chandigarh municipal corporation has issued 5,004 notices to consumers for their replacement.

The consumers have been told to buy the water meters at the own cost and get them replaced through the municipal corporation. The cost of one water meter is around ₹2,500.

In case the water meter is not replaced within two months, they will have to pay double the water charges.

Any other expenses for testing and installation will also be borne by the consumers and will be recovered through the water bills.

Due to the water meters lying defective for the past five years, consumers have been getting a flat bill irrespective of the water consumption.

Notably, the notices, issued under the Chandigarh Water Supply Bylaws, 2011, have come despite the Punjab and Haryana High court’s 2000 order, directing the municipal corporation to install domestic water meters at its own cost.

Municipal commissioner Anindita Mitra said, “Notices have been issued to 5,004 consumers to replace the faulty meters. Around 400 applications are being received daily for the replacement of defective meters and 1,178 have already been replaced. This will help streamline the water supply system and minimise losses through correct billing. In the upcoming MC House meeting, an agenda will be tabled to also maintain a stock of meters for immediate replacement.”

In 2000, the civic body had approved a similar agenda for water meter replacement, following which the Consumers’ Association Chandigarh had approached the Punjab and Haryana high court.

Subsequently, the high court had directed MC to install water meters by itself and directed it to refund the cost of the water meter to the consumers through bimonthly bills.However, failing to adhere to the court order, the civic body amended the bylaws in 2016, thereby adding the clause that the water meters’ cost will be borne by consumers only.

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