The Government has sought to hike the penalty amount on all types of offenses, including tampering of meter, connection to the Board sewer without permission, execution of work by any person other than a licensed plumber and constructing a building without drains.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage and Certain other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2009, tabled in the Legislative Assembly,seeks to enhance the penalties on various offenses under the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) Act.The bill also seeks to empower the Board to insist house owners to adopt water conservation methods.
Illegal use and wastage of drinking water and tampering of meters will soon attract severe punishment. Presently there is no provision to imprison an offender. New bill includes a penalty of imprisonment from six month to three years if water is wasted or misused. Board has been empowered to insist on the building owner to adopt water-conservation methods like rainwater harvesting and recycling of waste water for potable purposes.The bill is yet to be debated in the assembly.
The amendment to the Bill also brings developers of apartments and high-rise buildings in BBMP area to pay pro-rata charges (proportionate charges) towards cost of improvement of water and sewerage systems levied by the board from time to time.
