In a significant policy shift, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is gearing up to enforce penalties on unpaid water bills, signaling a stringent approach towards recovering overdue payments. As per the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, PMC holds the authority to impose a one percent per month penal interest on arrears, a measure previously overlooked but now set to take effect.
PMC’s Penal Interest Initiative: A New Chapter in Bill Recovery:
- The PMC, exercising its authority under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, will impose a one percent monthly interest on water bill arrears for commercial and certain residential properties.
- This move is a departure from the previous leniency shown towards non-payment of water bills, emphasizing the municipality’s commitment to fiscal discipline.
Grace Period and Implementation Timeline: Citizens Given a Window to Settle Dues:
- Citizens are granted a 60-day grace period to settle their arrears, with the deadline set for January 31, 2024.
- Penal actions for unpaid water bills will come into effect from April 1, 2024, for those who fail to clear their dues within the stipulated timeframe.
Challenges in Water Bill Arrears: Addressing Discrepancies and Encouraging Settlement:
- Approximately 39,000 PMC customers collectively owe around Rs 450 crore in water bill dues, with discrepancies such as double billing and faulty meters contributing to the inflated amount.
- The actual arrears amount to approximately 250 crores, prompting the administration to implement penal measures to recover the outstanding sum.
Billing Facilitation and Citizen Outreach: PMC’s Efforts for Transparency:
- The PMC has streamlined the billing process for all customers, urging those who haven’t received their bills to collect them from designated Water Supply Department offices by January 31, 2024.
- Nandkishore Jagtap, Head of the Water Supply Department, emphasizes citizen cooperation in settling dues before March 31, 2024, to avoid incurring interest on arrears.
