Jisha Surya
Thiruvananthapuram
A group of consumers who have trusted the plumbers entirely for availing house water connections are in the midst of devil and the deep sea, literally. The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has tightened its grip over the consumers whose illegal connections were caught red handed by the drought mitigation squad recently by asking them to file complaint against plumbers who had taken them for a ride.
Around 30 illegal connections were caught by the squad from various areas in the city during the raids last week. However, due to the nexus between the customers and plumbers, KWA was unable to identify some plumbers. The KWA has given an ultimatum of one week to the customers to file case against the plumbers as many of the customers refused to file complaints citing personal relationship with plumbers who are either their neighbours or relatives.
“We have informed them that if they fail to file complaint, we will file cases against them,” said an executive engineer, who added that it was the best option to crack their nexus. The KWA also informed that they will not be served water connection if they fail to file case against the plumbers.
Though KWA cracked around 30 cases, they are yet to make a list of the plumbers who served illegal water connection to the houses. “This is because the consumers were reluctant to name the plumbers. One of the reasons is that the plumbers mostly belonged to the same locality and there exist a nexus between them. Unless, we break this nexus, they will continue with this illegal act,” KWA official said.
The KWA has taken immediate action against some plumbers by suspending their licence. “But some of them didn’t have a license. Unless the consumers file complaint for cheating them, we have to approach police against both the consumers and plumber for misuse of our property,” said KWA official.
Recently, Sreekumaran Nair, a licenced plumber, was caught for serving illegal connection to around 19 houses in Sreekaryam, Chenkottukonam area. His license was immediately suspended. Each consumer was slapped with a fine of Rs 20,000.
“Another consumer in Killippalam who was slapped with a fine of Rs 86,000 has approached us with a request to reduce the fine amount. We have asked him to first register complaint against the plumber,” the KWA official said.
The KWA has launched drought mitigation squad to check illegal water connections and water theft during the summer. There were two squads, each consist of an overseer, a fitter and a plumber.
Thiruvananthapuram
A group of consumers who have trusted the plumbers entirely for availing house water connections are in the midst of devil and the deep sea, literally. The Kerala Water Authority (KWA) has tightened its grip over the consumers whose illegal connections were caught red handed by the drought mitigation squad recently by asking them to file complaint against plumbers who had taken them for a ride.
Around 30 illegal connections were caught by the squad from various areas in the city during the raids last week. However, due to the nexus between the customers and plumbers, KWA was unable to identify some plumbers. The KWA has given an ultimatum of one week to the customers to file case against the plumbers as many of the customers refused to file complaints citing personal relationship with plumbers who are either their neighbours or relatives.
“We have informed them that if they fail to file complaint, we will file cases against them,” said an executive engineer, who added that it was the best option to crack their nexus. The KWA also informed that they will not be served water connection if they fail to file case against the plumbers.
Though KWA cracked around 30 cases, they are yet to make a list of the plumbers who served illegal water connection to the houses. “This is because the consumers were reluctant to name the plumbers. One of the reasons is that the plumbers mostly belonged to the same locality and there exist a nexus between them. Unless, we break this nexus, they will continue with this illegal act,” KWA official said.
The KWA has taken immediate action against some plumbers by suspending their licence. “But some of them didn’t have a license. Unless the consumers file complaint for cheating them, we have to approach police against both the consumers and plumber for misuse of our property,” said KWA official.
Recently, Sreekumaran Nair, a licenced plumber, was caught for serving illegal connection to around 19 houses in Sreekaryam, Chenkottukonam area. His license was immediately suspended. Each consumer was slapped with a fine of Rs 20,000.
“Another consumer in Killippalam who was slapped with a fine of Rs 86,000 has approached us with a request to reduce the fine amount. We have asked him to first register complaint against the plumber,” the KWA official said.
The KWA has launched drought mitigation squad to check illegal water connections and water theft during the summer. There were two squads, each consist of an overseer, a fitter and a plumber.
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