Goa govt to decriminalise water theft by domestic and commercial consumers

Team Herald

PANJIM: The State Cabinet has commenced the process of decriminalising water thefts by domestic and commercial consumers by omitting the imprisonment and increasing the fines.

Speaking to mediapersons post-Cabinet meeting, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral on Wednesday said that as per the Water Supply Act 2003, those indulging in water theft both – domestic and commercial consumers, were liable to fine and imprisonment of six months term. 

Earlier, those indulging in stealing water dishonestly or those found taking illegal water connections and tampering meters so as to prevent accurate meter reading were punished with imprisonment for a maxixum three months or with fine or with both. 

As per the new decriminalisation proposal, six months imprisonment provision has now been dropped and fines have been increased. For water theft by domestic consumers the fine will be Rs 10,000 and for commercial consumers the fine will be Rs 50,000, he said. 

According to Cabral, who is also the Minister for Law and Judiciary, the State government has also commenced the process to introduce bills to decriminalise around 81 offences in sections of various acts. Initially, around 180 sections have been identified for decriminalisation, to improve ‘Ease of Living’.