<p>The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has come under criticism for penalising residential properties that do not have occupancy certificates (OCs). </p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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. </p>.<p class="bodytext">BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said he would write to the water board to amend the rules.</p>
<p>The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has come under criticism for penalising residential properties that do not have occupancy certificates (OCs). </p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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.</p>.<p class="bodytext">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. </p>.<p class="bodytext">BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said he would write to the water board to amend the rules.</p>
