MC to outsource recovery work to private agency

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 6

After failing to recover pending dues from defaulters, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) is now planning to outsource recovery work to a private agency.

A committee has been formed to prepare a detailed report on the proposal to outsource recovery work (for collection of pending water supply and sewerage charges) from the defaulters.

According to sources, the Municipal Corporation (MC) has to recover around Rs 300 crore from the defaulters who failed to pay their pending water supply and sewerage charges for a long time. Besides, a large number of consumers have got illegal water supply and sewer connections in the city.

It is learnt that a number of dispute cases regarding water supply and sewerage charges are also pending. However, the actual figure about the defaulters is not yet clear.

The MC Commissioner has formed a five-member committee which has been asked to submit its report within a week. Senior Deputy Mayor Sham Sundar Malhotra, who is one of the committee members said, “We will conduct a meeting in this regard. After holding a discussion on the matter, we will further take the decision over the proposal.”

Questions have been raised over the staff concerned as to why the timely recovery of water supply and sewerage charges was not ensured in the past. It has been seen that many residents from various areas often complain that the water supply and sewerage bills are not being delivered to them.

It is required to mention that the Municipal Corporation has earlier initiated multiple recovery drives, but dues are yet to be recovered from a large number of consumers.

An Additional Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation has recently stated that the civic body will take action against those persons who have not got their illegal water supply and sewerage connections regularised.

Rs 300 cr yet to be recovered from defaulters

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has to recover about Rs 300 crore from the defaulters who failed to pay their pending water supply and sewerage charges for a long time. Besides, a large number of consumers have got illegal water supply and sewer connections in the city. A number of dispute cases regarding water supply and sewerage charges are also pending. However, the actual figure about the defaulters is not yet clear.