Water supply firm starts snapping illegal connections in Manimajra

SBE Infrastructure CSCL Pvt Ltd, the firm running the 24×7 water supply project in Manimajra, has started a drive to disconnect illegal connections in the area.

A company official said they started the drive in the Shastri Nagar area on the direction of the Municipal Corporation. He said a fresh survey of existing water connections was being carried out in various establishments, including schools, community centres, religious places, dhabas, hotels, coaching centres, government offices and public toilets.

It has been noted that at many of these places, the size of water connection was not as per the prescribed norms for such facilities. The official said it come to their attention that meters were not installed at certain places and hence, water consumption was not being billed. As a result, the water used was being treated as non-revenue water.

He said the company had supplied to the MC a list of houses not having legal connections. At least 33 major establishments, including the MC fire station, many religious structures and several parks, were receiving water without any billing mechanism in place in Manimajra. He said they had written a letter to the MC in November last year seeking its help in removing the illegal connections. In May this year, they submitted a list of households unwilling to cooperate with the installation of smart water meters. But now they had start removing the illegal connections on the verbal direction of MC officials, he said.

The company had earlier written to Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria, requesting him to issue directions to the civic body to increase the canal water supply so that 24×7 water supply could be ensure in Manimajra.

Chandigarh Smart City Limited had allotted the work of 24×7 water supply project in Manimajra to SBE Infrastructure CSCL Pvt Ltd in 2021.

Chandigarh