BWSSB flayed for penalising consumers not having OCs

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has come under criticism for penalising  residential properties  that do not have occupancy certificates (OCs).  

At the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)  council meeting on Tuesday, members said the BWSSB was levying 50% penalty on the water bill on properties not having OCs issued by the BBMP.

K Gopalaiah, the JD(S) legislator from Mahalakshmi Layout who is  a member of the BBMP council, said the water board had issued a circular on March 3, 2016, stating that it will penalise properties without OCs. The BBMP commissioner, who is a member of the board, has not been informed, he added.

According to Gopalaiah, the  state government has issued a notification that it will supply 10,000 litres of free water to slum dwellers but officials were harassing people in the name of OCs.  Mayor R Sampath Raj promised a special meeting  to discuss the issue.  

BBMP Commissioner  N Manjunath Prasad said he would write to the water board to amend the rules.