Residents of Lachit Nagar, BT College Lane (West) hold public meeting

Citizens up in arms against water theft

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Close on the heels of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) seizing several pumps that were being used illegally to drain out excess drinking water from the corporation's pipeline; residents of some localities have decided to help the civic body to prevent such illegal acts in future.

Residents of Lachit Nagar, BT College (West), a prominent locality in the city, on Sunday held a public meeting and adopted resolutions to stop installation of pumps to illegally draw excess water. The meeting was presided over by eminent educationist and writer Dr DayanandaPathak.

"When pumps are used, the other residents who do not use them get less water. On many occasions, pipes of other houses go dry. Residents have resolved not to allow anyone to use pumps in future so that everyone receive equal quantum of water. Using pumps is not only illegal but also unfair as such act deprives others to receive even minimum quantum of water," Dr Pathak said.

Dr Atiqul Hussain, a noted ophthalmologist who attended the Sunday's meeting said residents had resolved not to allow any resident of Lachit Nagar, BT College Lane (West) to use pumps to draw excess water.

"We have also decided to approach the GMC commissioner and chief engineer of Water Works Department of the corporation to press the demand for supply of drinking water every day. The GMC now supplies water on every alternate day. We are law-abiding citizens and regular tax payers. It is completely justified for the GMC to take actions against those using pumps to draw excess water. But it is the duty of the corporation to supply adequate water every day," Dr Hussain who is former director of Regional Institute of Ophthalmology at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), said.

The meeting decided to constitute a committee of residents which would visit every household in Lachit Nagar, BT College Lane (West) with a request not to use pumps.

The GMC at present provides piped water to nearly 60,000 households, which is about 30 to 35 per cent of the actual water requirement of the city. According to GMC officials, many people, despite receiving piped water provided by the corporation, illegally drain water from municipal pipes by using pumps.

"During our recent drive we sealed more than 50 water pumps that were being used illegally to draw water from municipal pipes. These people, despite receiving water from us, steal water. We have found that these people rent out part of their residences and as such their requirement of water increases. The drive against such water pilferage will continue," said a GMC official.

"Pumps are fitted with at the end point of GMC water lines to extract huge quantity of water within a short span of time. When pumps are used, the other residents who do not use them get less water. On many occasions pipes of other houses go dry," he said.

The official said that the residents who were caught using water pumps during the drive last month would have to pay Rs 20,000 as fine or penalty. Water connections of those residents will be disconnected who do not pay the fine.

Also Read: Guwahati Municipal Corporation crackdown on water theft

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