BMC may hire new agency after complaints of non-receipt of water bills mount

In the wake of complaints about consumers from Kurla and Ghatkopar not receiving water bills on time, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is likely to appoint another agency for the job next fiscal.

Members of the standing committee, Shiv Sena corporator from Kurla Anuradha Pednekar and Congress councillor from Ghatkopar Pravin Chheda, had recently alleged that scores of consumers in the two eastern suburbs have not received bills for the past few months, leading to inconvenience. This has resulted in several being named in defaulters' list, despite it not being their fault.

Technically, a consumer's name appears in the defaulters' list if s/he doesn't pay bills within 45 days.

The corporation had appointed Mail Order Solutions to deliver bills to consumers in the area nearly two years ago. Corporators alleged the agency has failed to deliver the service as expected.

When asked, civic authorities admitted to having received several complaints in this regard. "We are likely to appoint another agency given the large number of complaints. We admit it is wrong if people receive bills late and their names figure in the defaulters' list," a senior official said.

He added that to address this problem the corporation has already started sending bills via e-mail and SMSes to consumers. "So far, we have collected 40,000 e-mail addresses. We request people to submit their e-mail IDs to us at our citizen facilitation centres, ward offices or hydraulic engineer's department. If we have e-mail IDs, consumers will get their bills on time," the official said.

"We are also mulling over having call centre services. But that plan will take some time to take shape." The BMC has around 3.55 lakh water connections in the city.