92 cases filed after amending BWSSB law

Fifty-seven cases are related to water thefts, 22 to illegal sanitary connections, and 13 against both unauthorised water and sanitary connections - all registered with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

The maximum number of cases have been reported in the South Division with 27 cases, followed by West - 23, East - 16, South-East - 13, North - 9 and Central - 4. The law officer of the Board said action was initiated as per the criminal procedure code.

“As per the amended BWSSB Act, the offence is compoundable where there can be a ‘compromise’ between the complainant and the accused. If the accused has not followed the statutory procedure in availing water or sanitary connections, the accused can pay an amount as compounding fee imposed by the court,” said the officer.

But the Board has only filed cases and not a single hearing has taken place so far. According to the amended Act, if the charges are proved against the accused, a maximum of three years’ imprisonment, with or without penalty of a maximum Rs 5,000, will be imposed by the court according to the severity of the charges. Once a theft or an unauthorised connection is detected, there is a daily fine of Rs 100 to Rs 500 which may be imposed by the court. The BWSSB Act was amended early this year for the first time in 46 years, after the Board came into existence. Not a single prosecution has taken place so far.