BMC cuts off 742 illegal water lines in 25 days

In 25 days, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has managed to cut off 742 illegal water connections and lodge 104 criminal cases.

In 25 days, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has managed to cut off 742 illegal water connections and lodge 104 criminal cases.

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This is the outcome of the BMC’s ongoing crackdown on illegal water connections. The BMC loses 700 million litres of water daily due to theft and pilferage.

The municipal body is also taking action against unauthorised booster pumps installed in homes to draw more water.

Cases of illegal connections were mostly reported from the slum-dominated areas of Mankhurd, Shivaji Nagar and Govandi in north east Mumbai. Civic officials said 327 buster pumps seized in 25 days.

Anil Diggikar, additional municipal commissioner, said, “This action will go on routinely in various wards.”

The civic body has also received 600 complaints about water leakages in a week. Of these, 501 have been repaired.

Water connections in slums are given on the basis of photo-passes or ration cards.

There is one water connection for a minimum of five households and a maximum of 15 households.

Slum dwellers often apply for new water connections and the BMC grants these on humanitarian grounds even to those slum dwellers who have settled in the city after 1995.

Instead of Rs 3.5 the civic body charges them Rs 7 for thousand litres of water.