Hyderabad: In an interesting case of “deficiency in service”, the Ranga Reddy District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum directed HMWS&SB to “supply water regularly” to a residential quarter of Kukatpally Housing Board as long as the occupant paid the bills. .
The complainant, Mr V.A. Padmakaran, a resident of HIG of sixth phase of KPHB, had petitioned to the consumer forum seeking direction to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board to supply 30 kilo liters of water per month to his quarter and to award damages of Rs 50,000 with costs of Rs 2,000 for not supplying water.
The complainant stated that the Water Works department had made some changes to the pipeline in the area and consequently the water pressure gradually lessened and they hadn’t received a drop of water for the past year.
The forum gave part relief to the complainant by directing restoration of supply, but refused to grant damages. The complainant stated that since being allotted the quarter, he had been living there for 20 years. He had complained about the stoppage of water to the Water Board’s grievance cell several times. But there was no response and the water supply had not been restored till date despite paying water bills without any arrears.
“The HMWSSB slept over the matter and created a lot of mental agony for me. I was forced to purchase water from outside,” alleged the complainant. HMWS&SB stated that it was supplying water to KPHB Colony including the quarter of the complainant.
Evidence showed that the department had collected Rs 600 from the complainant for fixing a new meter. He had filed six demand notices issued by the Water Board for the months of January to April 2014 and July, September months of 2014. The demand notices disclosed the number of units (kl) of water utilized by the complainant, which was of a negligible quantity.
Based on this the forum said there was irregular supply of water to the quarter and it amounted to “deficiency in service”. However, the forum opined that it was not possible to give a direction to the HMWS&SB to supply a particular quantity of water per month unless it was shown that the complainant was entitled to get such quantity of water as per rules.
as per rules.
As the complainant could not show any such provision, the forum directed HMWS&SB “to supply water regularly” to the complainant as long he paid his bills every month.
