Thane:
The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has decided
to introduce electronic water meters in residential
and commercial localities to monitor the consumption
of water in the area. However, due to the Model
Code of Conduct guidelines for the Lok Sabha
elections, the tenders will be auctioned only
after they end.
According
to civic sources, out of the 16.55 lakh residents
in Thane city, only 90,000 pay water tax. These
residents will be getting an electronic meter.
Interestingly, the TMC had planned and cancelled
installing electronic water meters 12 years
ago.
Now,
it has changed its mind and the civic water
department had prepared a plan of action, which
was expected to get approved during the General
Body meeting of April 2008. However, due to
several factors the proposal got approved recently.
But due to the Model Code of Conduct guidelines,
implementing the project will begin only after
the elections.The TMC is now waiting for a contractor
to design these meters as per European standards.
The
TMC expects that the contractor would provide
the meters to all the Thaneites. At the same
time, the contractor would be expected to monitor
these meters, take meter readings, prepare bills
and maintain them.
The
project is expected to be done in two phases.
During Phase I, meters will be installed at
Kopri, Naupada, Uthalsar, Vartak Nagar and Majiwada
Prabhat Samiti. Similarly, Wagle Estate, Railadevi,
Kalva and Mumbra Prabhat Samiti will get meters
during Phase II of the project. Each meter is
estimated to cost Rs 3,000 and the TMC will
manage the initial costs. However, the costs
meters will be charged to citizens later.
The
TMC also plans of charging Rs 8, Rs 10 and Rs
12 per 1000 litres stepwise to citizens residing
in buildings, bungalows and complexes, while
Rs 6, Rs 8 and Rs 10 per thousand litres will
be charged on those living in chawls and slums.
Speaking
to Thane Plus, Mangesh Geete from the water
department said, "We received a final approval
from the civic body just a month ago. Now, the
work is trapped as there the Model Code of Conduct
guidelines are on. We will also get a sanctioned
budget from the civic body. Once we will receive
tenders from contractors as per our requirements,
we will start the actual work."
Currently,
the TMC charges Rs 160 for those staying in
buildings and Rs 100 for those residing in chawls
and slums. As a result, a lot of water is wasted.
However, after installing water meters, the
actual use of water will be monitored and the
residents will be charged accordingly.
Wat-er
lossl The TMC currently receives water from
MIDC and BMC. The MIDC charges Rs 7.50 per thousand
litres, while the BMC charges Rs 8 per thousand
litres. The TMC spends Rs 8 for acquiring this
water, but only charges Rs 2.5 to Rs 3 per thousand
litres from the residents. As a result, the
TMC faces a lot of loss. In the year 2003-04,
the TMC spent Rs 25.47 crore, for 2004-05 they
spends Rs 30.78, 2005-06 and 2006-07 they had
losses more than Rs 30 crore
35,000
water bill payers missingl Civic sources say
that the TMC's tax and audit department considered
only 90,000 water bill payers. However, the
actual number is more than 1.25 lakh. If the
water meters are installed, it raises the question
of the remaining 35,000 water bill payers
Will
the billing system raise issues?Several slum
areas and chawls have a common water tap. There
are a few complexes where the TMC has attached
two to three pipes, which will produce a huge
reading. This can raise chances of issues being
raised, as people would have to contribute equally.
Also, if there is an agreement of paying equal
amounts of money for the bill, there are chances
that people may misuse this clause and use a
lot more water
Will
the meters be safe?The TMC plans on providing
a separate meter for every bill payer. Each
water meter is estimated between Rs 3,000. However,
these meters do not have a security system and
readings can be easily tampered with, which
may affect payments
The
water department needs a larger budgetAs the
project was designed two years back, the expected
budget for this also designed two years ago.
In between, there has been an increase in the
number of bill payers in Thane. Also, the TMC
made a few changes in the project that may raise
the costs. The water department will now need
additional funds for the project
Will
the meter system block the illegal water supply?
The residents receive 390 MLD of water daily.
However, around 30 per cent of this is stolen.
This makes it difficult for the TMC to note
readings. The water department recently did
a survey to figure out the map of water pipelines.
Now, if this system gets applied in the city
successfully, then it is easy for the water
department to have a bar on illegal water usage
The
war between building and slum area water ratesThe
water department has kept two different rates:
one for those who stay in buildings, complexes
and bungalows and other for those who stay in
slums and in chawls. There is, however, a huge
difference in rates. Hence, people protesting
the civic body for their decision and demanding
for the same rate
courtesy:www.ghodbunderroad.com
