BMC to probe if water connections in 4 Govandi neighbourhoods are legal

Unauthorised and misused water connections will be disconnected, says civic body notice

- Linah Baliga

MUMBAI: Residents of four neighbourhoods in Govandi have been told to prove that their water connections are legal or face action, including disconnection of their water supply. This has been stated in a public notice issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to residents of Gajanan Colony, Lotus Colony, Shivaji Nagar and chawls on Abdul Hamid Marg in M East Ward.

The notice, dated March 7, states the BMC's waterworks department will conduct inspections of water connections in these areas from March 10 to 18. Residents have been told to furnish the necessary documentation to prove the legality of their water connections. Connections being used without authorisation or those that lack proper documentation will be disconnected, states the notice. Unauthorised water connections are resulting in a significant loss of revenue for the civic body, it adds.

The notice also states that if it is found that a domestic water connection is being used for commercial purposes, it will be subject to disconnection, and action will be taken according to municipal laws.

In such cases, the user must apply for a commercial water connection, which will be billed at commercial rates.