The Hindu : Kerala News : KWA to introduce bi-monthly spot billing

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Tuesday, Jul 06, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

KWA to introduce bi-monthly spot billing

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JULY 5. The Minister for Water Resources, T.M. Jacob, announced in the Assembly on Monday that the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) proposed to introduce bimonthly spot billing from November 1.

Replying to a debate on the demands for grants for water supply and sanitation and irrigation, the Minister said the new billing system would improve the revenues of the Authority.

Mr. Jacob also announced that the KWA would start a 24-hour computerised Consumer Complaints Redressal Cell from August 1 in Thiruvananthapuram. A `Tatkal scheme' for water connection would be introduced shortly to enable applicants to get domestic connection within 72 hours. Computerised water testing systems would be introduced in district laboratories.

The Minister announced that 29 major drinking water projects and 1,014 smaller projects would be started this year. These would cost about Rs. 1,209 crores and serve about 30 lakh people.

Mr. Jacob said sewerage systems would be introduced in all corporations and municipalities in phases. Sewerage projects would be taken up in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kochi, Kozhikode, Punalur, Pandalam, Chengannur, Thiruvalla, Kottayam, Muvatuppuzha, Aluva, Shornur, Palakkad, Kannur and Chalakkudy under the National River Protection Scheme.

He said Rs. 15 crores would be spent on building 25 permanent check-dams and 49 temporary check-dams. Large-scale irrigation projects would be completed in a time-bound manner. New irrigation projects would be taken up at Palakappandy in Palakkad district, Madambam in Kannur district and Thottumuknom in Thrissur. The participatory irrigation management system would be implemented as a pilot project this year.

After the Minister's reply, the House passed the demands for grants totalling Rs. 488 crores.

While Mr. Jacob was replying to the debate, the Opposition tried to stir up the differences between Mr. Jacob and the Revenue Minister, K.M. Mani, over which the department should implement the schemes using the River Management Fund. As soon the Opposition drew Mr. Jacob's attention to the delay in using the Fund, Mr. Mani intervened to say that Revenue was under his charge and he would reply to the question if raised by the Opposition through a motion or submission.

Mr. Jacob said that the Business Rules would decide which department should spend the Rs. 40.83 crores that had accumulated in the Fund. River management came under the Water Resources Department. The Opposition alleged that Mr. Mani was awarding contracts without calling tenders.

Mr. Mani sought time from the Deputy Speaker, N. Sundaran Nadar, to speak on the matter after the House voted the demands.

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