Residents protest over disconnection of water

The residents of Tenkanidiyur Gram Panchayat staged a protest against the CMC’s decision to disconnect water supply to the residents of the region, in front of CMC office on Saturday.

The residents shouted slogans against the CMC’s inhuman decision to disconnect water supply to as many as 150 houses in Tenkanidiyur Gram Panchayat especially during summer.

The protestors displayed empty pots during the protest. Speaking on the occasion, Tenkanidiyur Gram Panchayat President Yatish Karkera alleged that CMC is engaged in ‘politics’ for supplying water and CMC should be strongly condemned for its ruthless behaviour, he added.

“The CMC was supplying water to 150 houses in Laxminagar area of Tenkanidiyur Gram Panchayat since 2008, when the BJP supported members were administering the affairs of the Gram Panchayat.

The Panchayat failed to pay the bill to the CMC every month. The Congress supported members came to power in the gram panchayat in 2010. Following which, the CMC  issued notice to the Gram Panchayat to pay a hefty sum of Rs 33 lakh and immediately stopped the supply of water,” Karkera informed.

He said “We held talks with the MLA Raghupathy Bhat. Later we realised that the CMC officials had calculated the tariff for 165 litres of water per an individual. The Gram Panchayat has a population of 12,000. However, the CMC President and officials were ignorant of the fact that only 150 houses were supplied with water, while sending the bill to the Gram Panchayat,” he added.

“If they had calculated supply of water to 150 houses, the water bill per month would not have crossed Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,000. After installing water meters, the CMC sent a bill of Rs 11 lakh. This included the water bill which has been pending since 2008,” he said.

Karkera informed “we are paying  a sum of Rs 50,000 every month which comprises of the monthly tariff besides pending amount. When the cheque of Rs 50,000 for November month was given to the CMC officials, they immediately returned the cheque demanding the clearance of old balance.

From then onwards we have not paid to the CMC. They disconnected the water supply once the Congress won the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha bypoll”, he alleged.

He termed it as political drama. CMC president and officials are playing with the lives of people, he alleged.