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Pending BMC water bills mount to Rs 1,570 cr, govt agencies major defaulters

Apart from the city, BMC also supplies water to several villages falling under the Thane Zilla Parishad, and according to officials, bills have not been paid for the past several years

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Thane Zilla Parishad tops the list of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) water bills defaulters as per data from the Hydraulic Engineer's department of the civic body. Till March 7, over Rs 1,570 crore in water bill dues were pending from around 2.01 lakh water connections across the city.

Apart from the city, BMC also supplies water to several villages falling under the Thane Zilla Parishad, and according to officials, bills have not been paid for the past several years. The Thane Zilla Parishad owes Rs 28,12,48,488 to the BMC. Various state and central government offices are among the top defaulters. In fact, all top ten defaulters are government offices. Thane Zilla Parishad is followed by Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) with outstanding water bill dues of Rs 16, 81, 93, 106.

However, Vivek Bhimanwar, CEO of Thane Zilla Parishad, said all water bills were paid to the BMC, and dues recorded in the list may be of past arrears. "There is a possibility that these pending bills are the past unpaid amounts, and the amounts are tallied up to crores due to interest adjustment," said Bhimanwar. He added that he would take up the matter with civic officials for an interest waive-off.

Apart from government agencies, the defaulters include residential societies, private companies, builders and civic offices. Some of the bills have been pending for over 15 years. "Normally, we do not disconnect water connections of government offices like we do in the case of others. We send them reminder letters to pay their dues," said a civic official.

As on March 7, among the top ten defaulters, apart from Thane Zilla Parishad and Mhada's board office, the remaining eight defaulters were different Central and Western railways offices.

Western Railway officials will soon hold a meeting with BMC to sort out pending bill issues. Ravindar Bhakar, CPRO of WR, said, "We have been paying bills regularly and the current pending amount is not the principal amount. The BMC has levied some cess and surcharge on bills which we opposed." Subhash Lakhe, chief officer of Mhada said that he has no such information of pending water bills. Central Railway officials were not available to comment on the matter. AS Tawadiya, Hydraulic Engineer, BMC said, that if required, action will be taken if water bills are not paid.

THE TOP TEN

(As on March 7):

  • Executive engineer (water supply), Zilla Parishad, Thane: Rs 28,12,48,488
     
  • Estate Manager IV, Maharashtra Board, Griha Nirman Bhawan, Bandra: Rs 16, 81,93, 106
     
  • GM, Central Railway: Rs 13,34,99, 102
     
  • Divisional Superintendent, Western Railway: Rs 13,17,13,239
     
  • Sr Divisional Engineer (Estate): Rs 12,78,24,051
     
  • Divisional Superintendent, Western Railway: Rs 12,73,67,011
     
  • Divisional Engineer, Western Railway: Rs 11,87,44,814
     
  • Divisional Superintendent, Western Railway: Rs 10,78,52,150
     
  • Executive Engineer WR, Survey and Construction, DDR: Rs 10,78,52,150
     
  • Deputy Engineer, Lower Parel: Rs 7,50,17,955
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