Team Herald
MARGAO: Expressing shock and anguish, the residents of Davorlim, Navelim on Sunday protested on the streets over the inflated water supply bills they received.
The locals pointed out that not only did they receive bills of a total of six months at one time, they were also charged the highest slab of water supply rates when earlier they were of the low to lowest slab of rates.
They demanded PWD issue monthly bills and the staff personally respond to their complaints.
One elderly woman said, “Family would get reasonable water bills earlier but now is receiving between Rs 5,000 and 10,000.”
Many like her had the same complaint and they demanded that the PWD rectify these bills first.
“The Chief Minister had publicly asked the consumers not to pay their water bills if found faulty and that the PWD will issue new bills after rectifying the technical errors in the calculations. What happened to that? We listened to him and now we are suffering,” said Joywin Lobo.
Another resident also questioned what had happened to the free water supply if the consumption is below 16,000 litres. They alleged that this too was not done.
“In my neighbour’s case, the son is a patient at a hospital and his mother is also sick. They got a bill of Rs 14,000. How will they pay for this? They would not get such inflated bills earlier. The government should rectify the water bills first,” another resident said.
A lady said that she comes from a poor background and could afford to clear the bills she would receive earlier, which were below Rs 1,000 but now, is not in a position, to clear the inflated bills she has received.
They were unanimous in their plan not to pay the water bills unless the bills are rectified.
