The Patiala Municipal Corporation has decided to impose penalties ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 for the wastage of potable water.
The decision has been taken in view of the rising temperatures and increasing demand for drinking water.
Officials maintain that many residents use potable water for washing vehicles, watering lawns and gardens and leave taps running unnecessarily, leading to significant wastage.
Inspection teams formed
To tackle the issue, the Municipal Corporation has constituted special enforcement teams comprising junior engineers (JEs) and sanitary inspectors. These teams will monitor parts of the city, identify violators and take immediate action against them. Under the new enforcement policy, a person found misusing drinking water for the first time will be issued a challan of Rs 2,000.
A second violation will attract a fine of Rs 5,000, while a third offence could result in the disconnection of the water connection in addition to the penalty. MC Commissioner Paramjit Singh has appealed to city residents to use drinking water judiciously and avoid unnecessary wastage. He said water was a precious resource and its conservation is the collective responsibility of every citizen. The Commissioner warned that strict action would be taken against habitual offenders. — TNS
