Get SMSes about water cuts from Jan

Soon, citizens will receive information about water cuts, water bills and other water-related information via text messages or SMS. The municipal corporation’s plan is likely to roll out from the new year. Currently, the only way to disseminate such information to the public is through the emdia.

According to civic officials, a software developed for this purpose is in its final stage. The BMC hopes that messages relating to water bills will boost revenue by way of timely payments by citizens.Ramesh Bamble, chief engineer of the civic body’s hydraulic department that deals with water issues, said details to send the messages have been relayed to the information and technology department.Earlier this year, the civic body had urged citizens to register their cellphone numbers with them.

“We hope those who have not registered their numbers will do so once the system rolls out,” said a civic official, adding that the messages will help citizens make timely arrangements in case a temporary water cut is planned. Water cuts are necessitated when the civic body carries out repair and maintenance work. An official from the information technology department said the system will be in place soon. “We faced some technical glitches which we’re ironing out,” said the official.