The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : KWA to publish repair rates

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Monday, Nov 27, 2006
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

KWA to publish repair rates

G. Mahadevan

Plumbers charging exorbitant rates, complain people

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Faced with mounting complaints about contractors and plumbers charging exorbitant rates for repairing leaks on pipelines to houses and establishments, the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) is preparing to publish estimates for the work at different locations in the city.

The estimates will be made ready for publication in three to four weeks, K. Mohan, Superintending Engineer (Public Health Division) of the authority, told The Hindu here.

Cost calculation

The rates will be based on the costs of cutting various categories of roads and standard material required for different kinds of repairs and a rough calculation of the labour charges.

These will be made available to the assistant executive engineers and assistant engineers in all authority sections in the city and through the authority's helpline (0471 232 2674).

The public can call these offices and get a rough idea of how much it will cost for repairs.

Details of the kind and quantity of material needed for repairs can also be known.

Consumers' burden

Under the current rules of the authority, the cost of any repair done from the "boring point" on the main water line to the "meter point" inside a house or establishment has to be borne by the owner.

Since there are no official rates, the house owner has to pay whatever the contractor or plumber demands.

In many cases, the fee demanded is two or three times the actual amount.

In their hurry to rectify the problem and get water supply normalised, most people do not bother to ring up the authority's offices, particularly the vigilance wing, to register complaints.

However, there has been a demand from many quarters, residents' associations in particular, that the authority itself take up the repairs.

About two years ago, the Board of the authority made a recommendation in this regard to the State Government.

Service charge

It had suggested that along with the shifting of the responsibility of repairs to the authority, charging each customer Rs. 10 as a monthly "service charge" to finance the work should also be allowed.

The Government has not yet responded to these recommendations.

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