BMC plans on-site water bill payment system

“We want a more consumer-oriented bill payment system. With on-site payment, there won’t be any need to stand in queues or pay penalty for delayed bills. Even our recovery will be better in slums. The tenders for the new system will be ready in two months,” added Bamble.

The department also plans to enable water bill payment at BMC kiosks in the city. Besides the new billing system, consumers applying for a new water connection will soon be able to track the progress of their applications online.

“In order to ensure water from tankers reach consumers, who have officially applied for it, the civic body also plans to start tracking tankers online. At present, consumers in need of water tankers have to send applications to their respective wards, and the applications processed by the respective deputy hydraulic engineers will permit consumers to hire tankers, to which the water supply department will provide water. Once water is supplied, there is no way to check if the water tanker is going to the correct consumer,” he said.

With online tracking, once consumers apply for water tankers online, the water supply department will check the previous consumption and after ascertaining the need for water, will provide water tankers and send SMSes to  consumers.  “We will have a system where the consumer has to revert and inform if the tanker has reached, so that we can be sure that water supplied by us goes to the correct consumer,” added Bamble.

anjali.lukose@expressindia.com