Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) on Monday issued challans to 45 city residents for misuse of drinking water in Chandigarh.
MCC has formed 14 teams under the supervision of sub divisional engineers to check the misuse of drinking water in the city.
RC Diwan, MCC Superintending Engineer said, “On the first day, 45 challans totaling Rs90000 were issued. The challan amount is Rs2000.”
He said: “Our purpose is to make masses aware about the importance of portable water as the supplied water in the city is mainly for the drinking purpose and not for washing of the cars and watering lawns.”
Kuldeep Singh, sub-divisional in-charge, division number 17 said, “I have issued challans to four people on the first day. People are well informed about the challans yet we observed their servants washing the car with water pipe and watering the lawns.”
The MCC teams issued challans in morning hours during the supply of water (5: 30 am to 8: 30 am).
last year, the Municipal Corporation had increased the amount of fine from Rs 500 to Rs2000 for the misuse of drinking water. It was also decided that no notice would be issued for the first violation as per the earlier practice.
last year, MCC had issued 1002 challans, highest ever. In previous years, the MCC used to issue notices in hundreds but fines were imposed very often.
In 2011, only two challans were issued for the misuse of drinking water. In 2010, the number of challans was 52 while it was 16 in 2009.
The city receives 87 million gallons daily (mgd) water. The peak summer demand is of 116 mgd.
There is no scope for increasing availability of water in the city till the project for the next phases of Kajauli water works gets underway.
And, because of the major gap between demand and supply, a drive is initiated every summer to check the misuse of water followed by subsequent challans for defaulters.