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Water meter- "To be or not to be"
The proposal for 24-hour metered water supply has drawn flak from a majority of the residents. While a few welcomed the move, they were sceptical about the efficacy of the meters and felt that the leaking pipelines could defeat the very objective of water conservation. Here are some of the views expressed by our readers. The Municipal Commissioner, Navin Mittal, has agreed to reply to the views.
Enhance tax
The implementation of water meters would cause untold misery to the ordinary householders who have been depending on municipal water for decades in the absence of borewells or open wells. The major problem would be the likely malfunctioning of the meters. It is a known fact that most of meters do not function properly and the simple householders would be penalised for their malfunction.
The best thing would be to enhance the present slab of water tax from Rs. 60 to Rs. 100, instead of implementing the meter.
P. Prabhakara Rao
Ramnagar.
Why penalise taxpayers?
The authorities in the name of regulating the water supply will be putting an additional burden on middle and lower middle class taxpayers by implementing the water meter.
Instead of adding this woe, the authorities should focus on the loss of water due to many reasons like, loss in transit, unauthorised connections and leakage. If the loss is curtailed and the supply time is correctly regulated then there is no need for any meter.
T. Madhava Rao
Rajendra Nagar.
Quixotic
When people are satisfied with the present supply of water for one hour, where is the need for the water meter? If the Government needs fund to bring the Godavari water to the city, the present water tax can be enhanced to that effect marginally.
The scheme victimizes 40,000 families and only benefits the meter suppliers and the fitters.
M.V. Narasimham
Chinna Waltair.
Two types of consumers
It is good to see that Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation is taking up the Godavari Water scheme seriously to reduce its dependence on rainwater. The idea of implementing water meter by VMC is justified as it will be incurring a cost to bring the Godavari water all the way for round the clock supply. Moreover, the meter will also act as a deterrent and restrict people from wrong use of the water.
But instead of implementing the meter, the best thing is to regulate the supply or separate the consumers from the one's who want 24 hours supply and the one's who want regulated supply. Meter can be attached to the consumers who desire the round the clock service and the rest can continue to pay the tax on half-yearly basis. VMC should consider such options and restrain itself from issuing threatening statements.
D.V Rama Krishna
Subbalakshmi Nagar.
Judicious implementation
Metering of water reduces wastage and wrong usage hence it should be implemented. But before doing so VMC should consider the following points.
The meters should be connected by VMC at their cost as done by the electricity department. Replacement and rectification of defective meters should also be carried out by VMC.
Collection of capital cost from residents for the Godavari water project should be avoided.
The Corporation should fix a minimum quantity of water per family as per the present tax slab and the extra water consumed could be charged on kilo-litre basis.
V.R. Rao
Pithapur Colony.
Check your meters first
The Corporation has got to check the meters that it has already installed in some of the places. There are complaints that most of the meters are not working properly and 70 to 80 per cent of the amounts are fixed on past consumption records.
Moreover, for every new connection one has to shell out over Rs. 10,000 and the additional burden of water meter could be a very demanding economical proposition for the middle class people.
P.Appa Rao
T.S.N. Colony.
It's good
The proposed 24-hour metered water supply is the best way for making people use water judiciously and economically. But it could be a major problem for the middle and lower middle classes. The VMC has to keep in mind the financial condition of these people and fix the charge.
It is suggested that they go by the WHO recommendation of free supply of certain quantity of water and anything above that quantity may be charged marginally.
Aparna Kompella
Siripuram.
It's time we learnt
We never bothered to conserve rainwater or make judicious use of water unless we were pitched against the severe drought scenario. People were just learning to make best use of water when the much-awaited rains brought back smiles to the residents. Now the Government is planning to bring the Godavari water for round-the-clock metered water supply.
If the same water is supplied with out any check, most of the water will be wasted as anything that comes free can be wasted, as per typical Indian mindset. So I think metering is the best way to check the wastage of water. But the main point is do we need a meter to make us realise the usefulness of water.
Chinmayee Sahu
104 Area.
Plug leakage
The proposal for 24-hour metered water supply is welcome, especially, in view of the need for proper utilisation and prevention of wastage of water. The proposal, if implemented, will have a salutary effect from a futuristic point of view.
There is an urgent need to arrest leakages at public taps.
G.S. Siddhartha,
New Resapuvanipalem.
Conserve first
Metering of domestic supply is done to curb wastages and use of unreasonable quantities by unscrupulous householders. With the present daily supply for about 40 minutes and meagre pressure there is no scope for wastage or unreasonable consumption by residents.
24/7 supply is more or less hypothetical and would result in severe leakages in water mains that lack proper maintenance.
The public will be happy if there is supply for one hour with adequate pressure. The objective should be to conserve the precious liquid for uninterrupted supply rather than lavish usage, metering and billing.
I feel metering, recording and billing is not necessary.
V.K. Sarma
Pithapuram Colony
No more complications
I can't understand as to why the independent house owners are being harassed by the VMC. In the past, it was the UGD and now the water meters. The persons employed to take the meter-readings will start making `deals' and the powerful will keep getting minimum water bills while the honest consumers are fleeced. Half-an-hour of water supply every day is enough. Please do not complicate the life of the middle class any more.
Gopal Tallamraju,
East Point Colony.
Stop wastage first
The VMC is becoming callous and insensitive to public grievances day by day. This does not augur well for the city. Further, 24X7 - a fad picked up from NDTV - will be a disaster with leaking pipes and wastage.
T.S. Rao,
MVP Colony.
Unethical and arbitrary
The VMC is insisting on 24X7 water supply as it gave counter guarantee to purchase water from L &T. The plan is to hike the water charges abnormally and shift the burden to the middle class. This is arbitrary and unethical.
Further, the water-starved populace is accustomed to conservation; 24-hour supply may make them extravagant. There will be no applicants for water tap connection in future, if the proposal is implemented.
A.V.L. Bhujanga Rao,
Seethammadhara.
Do not boast
Instead of boasting of 24/7 supply and water meters, it would be gratifying if the water is supplied with sufficient pressure and at convenient timings.
A.V.L. Subrahmanyam,
Seethammadhara.
Planned approach
Any right thinking person should approve and agree to the metered water supply for 24 hours. However, the VMC should ensure strict water quality, fix meters for its own establishments like municipal schools and parks, consuming water. A card system for noting down the meter reading as in the case of power supply is necessary, to prevent friction among the residents and the staff.
U. Muralikrishna,
East Point Colony.
Dual approach
The 24-hour supply of water is very good, if implemented and maintained successfully. But, the VMC should give two options to the public: 1. The existing system of fixed flat rate per connection should be continued as usual with improved services.
2. The 24-hour metered water connection as a purely optional measure should be undertaken by the VMC by undertaking the following measures: New water line with more water and greater pressure should be laid, water should reach directly to the overhead tank of the individual house at least up to the height of second floor. This will reduce the burden of constructing the sump and pumping to the overhead tank. Because of these savings, people would readily prefer this option. If for any reason, the water supply fails for more than a day, the VMC should supply water and see that it is pumped to the overhead tank at the same rate.
P.V.B. Rama Krishna,
TPT Colony.
Continue old method
The VMC will lose revenue by forcing people to go for water meters. The residents will use the municipal taps only for 10 to 15 minutes to meet their drinking water needs while relying on the wells for their other needs. The proper functioning of the meters is also under a cloud and there is a possibility of their manipulation. The deployment of field staff to monitor the water lines will make a dent in the revenue of the VMC.
Under these circumstances, I feel that the existing arrangement is to be continued.
V. Someswara Rao,
Sector 5, MVP Colony.
Forget fancy meters
The 24-hour supply will result in greater wastage of water as many of the pipelines are leaking and it will defeat the efforts of conservation of the precious commodity. The VMC should stop the fancy of fixing water meters. It should instead supply water for one hour in the morning and one hour in the evening to contain transmission losses till the Godavari waters are received.
Increase in water tax will be a burden on the citizen.
S. Gopala Sastry,
Dwarakanagar.
No threats please
The threats of disconnection issued by the municipal corporation are unfair. The performance of the meters is in doubt and it is not known how the water can be quantified when the meters are under repair. I request the corporation not to resort to disconnection of taps to achieve their goals.
Bh. Sriramamurthy,
Pithapuram Colony.
Negative returns
If the VMC is thinking of making money out of `plenty' by imposing meters on the taps of existing consumers and enhancing the tariff from Rs.60 to Rs.100 per month, everybody would use less of municipal water and more of well water. This would be discouraging factor for other families to go for new connections. Consequently, the VMC will realise diminishing returns and may have to regret at a later stage.
B. Surya Rao,
Lawson's Bay Colony.
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