Hyderabad: The city Water Board is set to target big defaulters. Armed with powers to attach movable and immobile properties, the Water Board will first zero in on consumers owing more than Rs 50,000. There are more than 9,300 big defaulters who owe Rs 50,000-Rs 1 crore to the Board. These are bulk consumers, whose connections have been severed for non-payment.
For this, the Water Board has also formed a special team that will specifically deal with the big defaulters. There are over 70 defaulters who owe the board over Rs 1 crore. Though the Water Board has a separate “vigilance team” headed by a former Army officer, it has been unable to cover the entire city and peripheral municipal circles.
“We have roped in ex-servicemen who will be formed into three teams and will be trained in dealing with specific defaulters. Ex-servicemen who worked in the Military Engineering Service (MES) and have field work experience are given preference,” said Satyanarayana, director (revenue), Water Board. The cash strapped Water Board hopes to complete the drive in the next four months.
“Red notices” have been served to over 2.72 lakh of the 3.27 lakh identified defaulters. So far, less than 10,000 defaulters have come forward to clear their dues after Water Board officials threatened to register cases and seize their assets.
