Mexico City: As high as 41 per cent of the customer respondents in a survey in India had given more than one small bribe in the previous six months in order to falsify their water meter readings, a United Nations report says citing an Indian study.

The U.N. World Water Development Report, released here on Thursday, said political corruption was costing the water sector millions of dollars each year. The survey, carried out recently to map petty corruption in India's water sector, found that 30 per cent of the customer respondents had made more than one small payment in the previous six months to expedite repair work.

The report, titled `Water, a shared responsibility,' said: "While these examples are not intended to suggest that any one country or water sub-sector is worse than the rest, it is important to note that many countries that face severe water crisis are also ranked as corrupt countries." It added: "Forty one per cent of the customer respondents had made more than small payment in the past six months to falsify meter reading to lower bills." The report said the revenues lost due to falsifying water meters accumulates to large sums over time.

The survey revealed that 12 per cent had made payments to expedite new water and sanitation connections. "This is money that alternatively could be spent on improved operation and maintenance, new investments to improve water and sanitation systems for economically weak groups, etc."

The study indicated the frequency of payments made on the side from contractors to public officials within the water and sanitation sector. "According to public official respondents, side payments occur on a frequent basis," it said.

Seventeen per cent of the respondents said it happened every time, 33 per cent claimed it was quite common, 8 per cent said it took place about half the time, 17 per cent said it occurred occasionally and 25 per cent said it occurred infrequently or never. The value of the kickbacks ranged from 6 per cent to 11 per cent of the contract value, it said. — PTI

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