Ctg Wasa owed Tk258cr, deploys 8 monitoring teams to recover dues
The authorities said unauthorised water connections are contributing to higher system losses.
Chattogram Wasa is owed around Tk258 crore in outstanding revenue by its customers, including Tk71.5 crore from government offices and Tk186.5 crore from general consumers.
To recover the dues, the water utility has deployed eight monitoring teams comprising officials from its revenue and engineering departments.
The teams, made up of executive engineers, revenue officers, revenue supervisors and meter inspectors, are regularly visiting the homes and establishments of customers with outstanding bills.
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Their activities are being supervised by Wasa's deputy managing director (finance), while officials are directly contacting defaulting customers on working days and urging them to clear their dues.
Chattogram Wasa Chief Revenue Officer Rumon Dey told The Business Standard, "Our mobile court is conducting a drive in the city's Bayezid area today as well. At present, around Tk258 crore is outstanding from government and private-sector consumers."
Wasa sources said customers owing more than Tk50,000 are being prioritised during the drives.
While officials are encouraging customers to clear their dues through discussions, water connections are being temporarily disconnected in accordance with regulations if customers refuse to pay.
Alongside recovering outstanding revenue, Chattogram Wasa has intensified drives against illegal water connections and unlicensed deep tube wells.
The authorities said unauthorised water connections are contributing to higher system losses.
Those found with illegal connections are being allowed to become legal customers after paying fines. Similarly, unapproved deep tube wells are being shut down, while operators are being fined and asked to obtain licences.
On 16 August, Wasa disconnected three water connections belonging to Md Jasim Uddin during a drive in the Bandartila area of Airport Road.
The utility alleged that the customer had been illegally selling water. Around Tk15 lakh is outstanding against the three connections.
Wasa has also been carrying out awareness campaigns alongside the recovery drives. Since July, announcements through loudspeakers and leaflet distribution have been conducted in different wards of the city to encourage customers to pay bills regularly.
Chattogram Wasa Managing Director Engineer Selim Md Jane Alam said, "Chattogram Wasa is determined to recover outstanding revenue. Eight monitoring teams are working intensively under the supervision of the DMD (finance)."
He said there was no scope to waive the outstanding bills as they constitute government revenue, and urged all customers with dues to clear their bills and help improve Wasa services.
He added that the utility had also taken a strict stance against illegal connections and unlicensed deep tube wells, urging those concerned to legalise unauthorised connections and obtain licences for deep tube wells in accordance with the law.
