Non-payment of bills: KWA starts disconnecting water supply as arrears touch Rs 172 cr

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has initiated action to cut water supplies over non-payment of bill dues. In the past few days, the department disconnected the water supply to the government offices, local self-government bodies and other offices.

Currently, the bills arrears in the department has touched Rs 172 crore. The authority decided to take drastic measures as the financial crisis worsened. 

The department had halted all proceedings including the collection of outstanding dues during the Covid-19 outbreak. The water authority’s income increased after the proceedings began. Normally, the department has a monthly income of about Rs 45 crore. Last month, this revenue has increased to Rs 70 crore. 

At the beginning of this financial year, the bill arrears was recorded as Rs 913.37 crore. The department received 99,601 applications for inclusion in a relaxation scheme to settle arrears of about Rs 741 crore when it conducted a one-time bill settlement programme. 

Now, the water authority has initiated action to disconnect the rest of the water connections.

Till date, water supplies to offices including Thiruvananthapuram corporation, KSRTC headquarters and Pathanamthitta civil station have been disconnected.