<p>As the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) faces financial constraints, pending water bills in the twin cities have crossed Rs 184 crore. At this juncture, the civic body has planned to urge the government for a one-time-settlement (OTS) scheme to waive off the interest on dues. The civic body hopes this initiative will encourage defaulters to clear pending bills and boost its revenue.</p><p>Unable to take up major infrastructure works with its own resources, the corporation looks at the government whenever such a need arises. The HDMC has to pay nearly Rs 100 crore to contractors, while Rs 260 crore is pending from the government, authorities say.</p><p>Even as the drinking water supply frequency in most of the areas in the twin cities is around once in six-seven days, and residents often express ire against delay, pending water dues have put the authorities in a fix about clearing that. Pending water bills have been a perennial issue in the twin cities, though monthly collection has been satisfactory. In fact, out of Rs 184.74 crore pending water bills till 2024-25 end, the interest amount itself is Rs 80.11 crore. Collection has become a major task for the agency managing the water supply system and implementing 24X7 water supply project monitored by the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC).</p><p>Out of Rs 51.13 crore regular water bills in the twin cities, Rs 47.32 crore was collected in 2024-25. Hubballi-Dharwad has 1.82 lakh water connections. The L&T which is implementing the 24X7 water supply project, and KUIDFC have the task of collecting water bills. </p><p><strong>Burden on HDMC</strong></p><p>Admitting that dues are a burden on the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), which is the owner of the water supply system, former mayor Ramanna Badiger said a proposal for one-time settlement (OTS) of the interest amount will be submitted to the government, but water supply frequency also has to be improved.</p><p>According to KUIDFC and HDMC officials, harsh measures like disconnecting water supply cannot be taken up as drinking water is a basic facility and disconnection is inhuman also, while awareness and concession are better options.</p><p>"These are historical arrears, and we are trying to streamline through awareness. Notices will also be issued," said KUIDFC Superintending Engineer H N Manjunath.</p><p>OTS proposals approved twice several years back were not successful, and another proposal was rejected, recalled senior corporator Veeranna Savadi, stressing the need for a suitable measure to collect dues.</p><p><strong>Power failure</strong></p><p>At present, water supply is round-the-clock in 11 demo zone wards, daily in 25 wards, and once in five-six days in the remaining 46 wards. Sometimes, it has reached upto once in 10 days at a few areas in recent days, mainly due to power failure.</p><p>"Those with heavy dues want some concession or interest waiver to pay the dues," said a community facilitator of the KUIDFC's support organisation appointed to create awareness about different aspects of the project.</p><p>No proper timing of water supply causes inconvenience, said M C Sindhur, a resident of Timmasagar Gudi Oni, adding that some concessions like OTS and daily water supply to all would encourage citizens to pay the arrears.</p><p>HDMC Commissioner Rudresh Ghali said another OTS proposal will be prepared afresh now.</p>
<p>As the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) faces financial constraints, pending water bills in the twin cities have crossed Rs 184 crore. At this juncture, the civic body has planned to urge the government for a one-time-settlement (OTS) scheme to waive off the interest on dues. The civic body hopes this initiative will encourage defaulters to clear pending bills and boost its revenue.</p><p>Unable to take up major infrastructure works with its own resources, the corporation looks at the government whenever such a need arises. The HDMC has to pay nearly Rs 100 crore to contractors, while Rs 260 crore is pending from the government, authorities say.</p><p>Even as the drinking water supply frequency in most of the areas in the twin cities is around once in six-seven days, and residents often express ire against delay, pending water dues have put the authorities in a fix about clearing that. Pending water bills have been a perennial issue in the twin cities, though monthly collection has been satisfactory. In fact, out of Rs 184.74 crore pending water bills till 2024-25 end, the interest amount itself is Rs 80.11 crore. Collection has become a major task for the agency managing the water supply system and implementing 24X7 water supply project monitored by the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC).</p><p>Out of Rs 51.13 crore regular water bills in the twin cities, Rs 47.32 crore was collected in 2024-25. Hubballi-Dharwad has 1.82 lakh water connections. The L&T which is implementing the 24X7 water supply project, and KUIDFC have the task of collecting water bills. </p><p><strong>Burden on HDMC</strong></p><p>Admitting that dues are a burden on the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), which is the owner of the water supply system, former mayor Ramanna Badiger said a proposal for one-time settlement (OTS) of the interest amount will be submitted to the government, but water supply frequency also has to be improved.</p><p>According to KUIDFC and HDMC officials, harsh measures like disconnecting water supply cannot be taken up as drinking water is a basic facility and disconnection is inhuman also, while awareness and concession are better options.</p><p>"These are historical arrears, and we are trying to streamline through awareness. Notices will also be issued," said KUIDFC Superintending Engineer H N Manjunath.</p><p>OTS proposals approved twice several years back were not successful, and another proposal was rejected, recalled senior corporator Veeranna Savadi, stressing the need for a suitable measure to collect dues.</p><p><strong>Power failure</strong></p><p>At present, water supply is round-the-clock in 11 demo zone wards, daily in 25 wards, and once in five-six days in the remaining 46 wards. Sometimes, it has reached upto once in 10 days at a few areas in recent days, mainly due to power failure.</p><p>"Those with heavy dues want some concession or interest waiver to pay the dues," said a community facilitator of the KUIDFC's support organisation appointed to create awareness about different aspects of the project.</p><p>No proper timing of water supply causes inconvenience, said M C Sindhur, a resident of Timmasagar Gudi Oni, adding that some concessions like OTS and daily water supply to all would encourage citizens to pay the arrears.</p><p>HDMC Commissioner Rudresh Ghali said another OTS proposal will be prepared afresh now.</p>