Regarding the overdue water bill of the irrigation department, the Pune Municipal Corporation has only two options!
| Proceedings for appointment of legal counsel
Pune PMC News – (The Karbhari News Service) – Department of Water Resources has submitted bills to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) at industrial rates instead of domestic and commercial rates. However, the Municipal Corporation is claiming that we are only providing water for drinking (Domestic Use) and there is no reason to levy Industrial Use (Industrial Use) Bills. However, the Municipal Corporation did not get any relief regarding these bills. Moreover, the Irrigation Department has warned the Municipal Corporation to cut off water if the bill is not paid. Therefore, the Municipal Corporation is now left with only two options to take a strategic decision in this regard. The first is to appeal to the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) or to the High Power Committee of the State Government. Going. These are the options. Accordingly a proposal will be sent to the Legal Department (PMC Legal Department) for appointment of legal counsel for appeal. This information was given by administrative sources. (Pune Municipal Corporation News)
The supply of water through Pune Municipal Corporation’s drinking water scheme (Water Treatment Plant) is being done on a per-human basis and is not being provided for processing industries and raw materials in the industrial unit. That is, the municipality provides water only for drinking (domestic use). Despite this, the Department of Water Resources has submitted bills to the Pune Municipal Corporation at industrial rates instead of domestic and commercial rates. The Irrigation Department has demanded payment of 736 crores including arrears from the Municipal Corporation. The issue of industrial rate bill was settled. Also the bill will not be charged at industrial rate. Such an assurance was given by Patbandhare in September 2003 meeting. Despite this, the Irrigation Department has demanded to pay 736 crores including the total arrears by removing the bills of September and October at the industrial rate.
Municipal Corporation claims that it is not providing water to the industry
According to the letter given by the Pune Municipal Corporation to the Irrigation Department regarding the industrial rate, the water demand has been recorded assuming the required LPCD for residential and non-residential buildings as per CPHEEO manual. It does not propose water demand for process industries and industrial raw materials for the industrial component. For the purpose of various types of water use, the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority has announced the Thok Jaldar at the end of June 2022, which includes domestic water use and industrial water use (processing industries and raw materials). It is being done and for the processing industry and raw materials in the industrial unit
doesn’t happen This was said by the Municipal Corporation.
– The hearing held for the sake of friendship involved the Municipal Corporation
Irrigation department and municipal administration had a joint hearing on this. In this, the issue of industrial rate was settled. The Irrigation Department had assured that further bills would be sent at domestic and commercial rates. However, in a meeting held in the municipal corporation the other day, the officials of the irrigation department dismissed this issue. The officials concerned said that the meeting was held by the head of water supply department for the sake of friendship. It was not an official meeting. So the discussion is meaningless. Also, the concerned officials warned in this meeting that if the bill is not paid, we will have to cut off the water.
100 crores will be given by the municipality till the end of March
Meanwhile, the municipal corporation has taken this warning of the irrigation department seriously. Because last time also the irrigation department had shut off the water. He had increased the headache of the municipality itself. Accordingly, the Municipal Commissioner has ordered the Water Supply Department to pay 100 crores till the end of March. Accordingly, in the first phase, the department has started the move to propose a classification to give 50 crores.
– Changes to be made in the contract
The Municipal Corporation had entered into a renewal agreement with the Irrigation Department on March 2, 2020 regarding water usage. It mentions industrial use. Therefore, the municipal corporation will have to change this contract first. For that one has to go to MWRRA or State High Power Committee. The Municipal Corporation has also started preparations for the same. The Municipal Corporation has now decided to proceed with the legal advice of the Law Department. For this, the Water Supply Department will send a proposal to the Law Department.
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