Nagpur: A reply to RTI query has revealed that the Water Supply Department of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is on slippery ground as far as bill arrears are concerned. A simple reading of the available data indicates that now the arrears figure has risen to Rs 253 crore during financial year 2023-24.
Even as the population in the city rises, the NMC is rising to the occasion by meeting the demands of citizens for drinking water. While the civic body is matching the demand as is indicated by yearly-rise in supplied water, on the flip side, however, the losses are growing substantially indicating that all is not well in the Water Supply Department.
Gold Rate
Thursday 09 Jan. 2025
Information shared by NMC showcased the mismatch in recovery against supply and if the situation remains as it is, then in the immediate future the citizens might have to bear with a steep increase in water cess.
Sharing information to a query posed by the Nagpur-based RTI activist Abhay Kolarkar under Right to Information Act, the Water Supply Department provided the year -wise data about the supply of drinking water. A cursory look at the available data sheet indicates that now the arrears figure has risen to Rs 253 crore during financial year 2023-24. This is despite handing over the supply of drinking water to a private company, the civic body financial returns are in the negative zone.
The development does not augur well as expenses on account of lifting of water from storage and other fees for treatment and maintenance of the infrastructure is only going to rise over the years. Kolarkar sought information for the past five financial years wherein he was given the figures.
As of 2019-20, the total water supply to different categories of consumers was 643.061 MLD against which arrears were Rs 176 crore. Though in next financial year 2020-21 the arrears reduced a bit, to Rs 171 crore, the water supply increased considerably to 667.759 MLD. However, from next year onwards, the arrears began to swell, which is a sign of worry. In 2021-22 while NMC provided water of 664.139 MLD, the arrears zoomed to Rs 191 crore. Again in 2022- 23 the total supply was 676.076 MLD the arrears jumped to Rs 219 crores and now as above mentioned, they are pegged at Rs 253 crore.
The water supplied during 2023 is 714.830 MLD. In fact the demand for water supply is going to rise to one of the highest levels, as during the year 2024 till May, 715.067 MLD was supplied so far.
Under RTI, Kolarkar also sought information as to losses suffered in the drinking water supply scheme to which the private operator expressed inability, saying the same is available with NMC. Post outsourcing drinking water supply, the recovery of NMC has increased, compared to yesteryears when it was in-house. Still the rising arrears are a worrying sign and needs quick fixing to avoid ballooning of the default.
