2,257 illegal water connections cut in Mumbai in 6 months: Maharashtra Minister
Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Uday Samant on Tuesday said 2,257 illegal water connections were cut in Mumbai in the last six months, and warned that more
Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Uday Samant on Tuesday said 2,257 illegal water connections were cut in Mumbai in the last six months, and warned that more action will follow in the coming days. He said orders will be issued for a crackdown on unauthorised pipelines to curb water theft in the city, where households are facing water cuts because of low levels in seven supply reservoirs. Read Full Story Replying to a calling attention motion in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Samant said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will launch a 90-day drive against illegal water connections. “Orders will be given to cut illegal water connections. A 90-day drive will be undertaken for this purpose (by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC),” the minister said.
Samant was replying on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who holds the urban development portfolio. The issue was raised by BJP MLC Rajhans Singh. In a written reply to the motion, Shinde said the BMC had found 14 unauthorised water connections in Kurla, 22 in Mankhurd-Govandi, and five each in Kalina and Malvani. He said these unauthorised connections were being used for construction activities. Shinde said the main supply lines feeding these illegal connections had been disconnected. He added that further legal action had been started under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, and criminal complaints had been filed at the police stations concerned.
He also said action had been taken against 30 unauthorised garages that had encroached on roads and footpaths. According to the reply, unauthorised water connections are often found at hotels, lodges and commercial establishments along LBS Marg in Kurla Ward. Whenever such connections are detected, joint action is taken by the police, local public representatives and municipal officers to disconnect them from the main water supply line immediately. Shinde said such timely action helps prevent water theft and wastage. He added that the BMC regularly carries out drives to remove unauthorised water connections and imposes penalties at double the normal charges for water used illegally under the BMC Water Charges Rules.
Shinde also said the BMC periodically surveys each ward to identify unauthorised constructions and remove them, with designated officers in every ward office responsible for such action. He said complaints about illegal constructions can be filed through the online Removal of Encroachments and Tracking Management System, or RETMS, through which cases are recorded and acted upon. Overall, the government told the House that action against illegal water connections, unauthorised pipelines, encroachments and illegal constructions is continuing across Mumbai. Ends
The BriefWire