Bowing to public pressure, Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) Mayor Kiran Sayanak announced waiving off the arrears on water tariff and advised the residents not to pay the arrears to the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) on Monday. The arrears of Rs.1742 have been added to the water bills and the same can be paid in 5 installments.
But really can this be waived so easily ?
Now as per the Mayor’s words a new resolution has to be passed in the council meeting and the same has top be forwarded to ministry of urban development Bengaluru for approval, which is highly not possible after the CAG raised objection regarding non implementation of new water rate from date of GO in July 2011. This report of CAG has been tabled in the Assembly on 29.6.2015.
The corporation has already passed resolution No38 dated 17.11.2014 for the collection of the arrears.
There are some more facts which look highly impossible for the decision of the arrears of water bill collection would be waived.
To be a Smart city the city in question must be able to be self sustained in financing upto 80% along with some other criteria. So if this arrears is waived off this 80% target will not be met and hence Belagavi will loose the race in the Smart cities contest. Also under the AMRUT scheme the same criteria have been mentioned. In a situation where a new resolution is passed by the council, the ministry of Urban development must also approve the same and there could be a case of superceding the Corporation as well.
People who were happy that the arrears are waived off, dont be elated, still the arrears have not been officially waived off yet.
What about the people who has already paid the bill do then get refund on their next bill