JOIN USCar wash, watering lawns to attract penalty
Beginning from April 15, residents found wasting potable water, washing cars or watering lawns in the morning hours in Le Corbusier designed capital city Chandigarh will be fined Rs 2,000.
The drive by the city municipal corporation is aimed at conversing water in summer.
The ban would remain in place from 5.30 am to 9 am each day till June 30. The practice of imposing Rs 2,000 fine has been in place since the last four years.
At least 16 teams have been set up that will randomly visit sectors in the city, or act on a tip-off by residents, to challan people misusing potable water. Residents have been advised to get all water leakages repaired to avoid penalty. Chandigarh has over one lakh houses and has a high penetration of cars with each house having more than one car. The municipal corporation wants residents to wash cars using a water bucket instead of water pipe in the morning hours. They have also been advised not to use booster pumps on the main water supply line.
In 2009, the corporation issued only 16 challans for water wastage.
The number rose to 52 the next year. The drive suffered a casualty in 2011 when the corporation issued only two challans in the entire summer. In 2012, it peaked in its drive issuing 1,002 challans.
Last year, as many as 248 challans were issued. Before 2009, the civic body issued only notices. Later, a fine of Rs 500 was introduced which was increased to Rs 2,000 in 2012. Violators have the option of paying the fine on the spot or get it added to their water bills.