Residents fail to get water bills as civic body & LIT officials spar over records

Ludhiana: The residents living in colonies falling under Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) are shuttling between LIT and the municipal corporation (MC) offices for inquiring about the status of their water supply bills payment as they have not received any bills as of now. The LIT and MC officials, meanwhile, claimed that they have completed the process and the issue will be resolved soon.
In December 2020, the LIT had asked the civic body to take over the schemes only for maintenance of water supply and sewerage system and in return the civic body was to collect water supply and sewerage dues from the consumers. The MC officials then put up a proposal in MC general house meeting on July 14, 2021 about the same and it was given approval by the house members. The LIT had asked the MC to handle the water supply and sewerage system in schemes like Rishi Nagar, Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Rajguru Nagar and Sant Isher Singh flats.
A resident of SBS Nagar Arvind Sharma said, “If we do not get the bills of water supply and sewerage dues then how can we clear the same. There are residents who are ready to pay the bills but both the departments seem reluctant. If there will be penalty then who will pay that amount. He said both departments should resolve the issue as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, another resident from Rajguru Nagar BM Kalia said, “The department never sends bills on time and then public faces the heat when they are told to pay penalties too. This matter should be resolved soon.”
When contacted, superintending engineer of operation and maintenance cell of MC, Ravinder Garg said, “We had demanded records about total number of consumers, residential properties and their total dues from the LIT and now they have agreed to give it by Monday. Once we get that we will be able to move ahead with recovery.”
However, executive engineer of LIT, Boota Ram said, “We had sent the record on Friday too, but civic officials demanded computerised record. Now, they will send an engineer to LIT on Monday.”