CHANDIGARH, Dec 2: The Chandigarh Administration has approved the bylaws framed by the municipal corporation to amend the Chandigarh Water Supply bylaws. The 29-member House of the corporation had passed the bylaws sometime ago and were sent for approval of the Administration before its implementation.As per the amended water bylaws, the onus of getting the defective water meters of 1 inch and above, replaced, would now rest with the consumers, who will have to get the same replaced within a maximum period of four months. The consumer can intimate about the defective water meter through remarks on the water bill itself.In case the defective water meter is not replaced within four months of it becoming defective, the water supply of the consumer would be disconnected without any further notice. However, the corporation has already sent notices to such consumers for getting their defective meters replaced within four months.Incidentally, during the meetings of the corporation it was mentioned that a large number of water meters were defective in the City.All water connections of 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch will, however, continue to be replaced by the corporation and all water meters of 1 inch and above will have to be arranged by the consumers at their own cost for new connections as well as for replacement purposes.In the amended bylaws, the amount of security deposit for new water connections and the water meter rents have also been raised.The security deposit for 1/2 inch or 15 mm water meter will now be Rs 350, it would be Rs 550 for 3/4 inch meter or 20 mm meter, Rs 700 for 1 inch or 25 mm meter, Rs 1,400 for 2 inch or 50 mm meter, Rs 2,000 for 3 inch or 80 mm meter, Rs 3,250 for 4 inch or 100 mm meter, Rs 5,000 for 6 inch or 1,500 mm meter and Rs 7,500 for 8 inch or 200 mm water meters.Similarly, the monthly rent for a 1/2 inch water meter will now be Rs 5 per month, Rs 8 per month for 3/4 inch meter, Rs 20 for 2 inch meter, Rs 30 for 3 inch meter, Rs 40 for 4 inch meter, Rs 50 per month for 6 inch meter and Rs 80 per month for an 8 inch meter.For every new connection of 1 inch and above, the fee will be Rs 1,000, while the testing or replacement charges of 1 inch or above water meters will be Rs 100 and Rs 200 per meter respectively.In case the water meter is found tampered with, a penalty of Rs 350 on 1/2 inch meters, Rs 750 on 3/4 inch diameter meter, Rs 2,000 on 1 inch meter and Rs 3,000 on over 1 inch meters.
