Following the report in the Herald that consumers from Curchorem and Quepem were facing difficulties in paying their water bills in cash and cheques, Assistant Engineer of Sub Division I Works Division XX (PHE) Anandu Naik has written a letter to the societies authorising them to accept the bills and has requested to accept all the routine bills from consumers of sub-division even after expiry of last date.
Naik also stated in his letter that the agreement executed between the Executive Engineer XX (PHE), PWD Fatorda and the Chairman/Manager of the Societies/banks to accept the routine bills from the consumers.
“Now days many consumers have complained saying that the bank is reluctant to accept the water bills and accepts bills of those holding account/share in the bank and for others you are insisting to open an account/share in your bank. Accepting the bills of only who are having account/share in the bank was not the part of the agreement. The agreement was irrespective of both consumers may have account or may not.” Naik further clarified on the letter.
But the societies refused the request stating that their Societies are governed and controlled by Registrar of Cooperative Society and as per Society Act, Society cannot do business with non-members. “We cannot do business with non-members as per Society Act and this is also guidelines of Supreme Court as per Income Tax Act,” stated branch manager of one of the society in his reply to the department.
When the issue was brought to the notice of the Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, he assured that he will discuss the matter before the concerned minister. “I will bring the issue to the notice of the minister and if necessary will raise the question in the forthcoming Assembly as government must find a solution at the earliest to a long pending demand of the people,” he said and requested the consumers from the Curchorem constituency to approach his office at Curchorem with bill and their debit/credit card if they find it difficult to pay it online till the issue is solved.
It may be recalled that Herald had highlighted the issue of the difficulties faced by the consumers in paying the water tariff bill by cash in the Cooperative Societies/banks as they are demanding to open an account or to buy their shares to accept the bills and the department office at Bansai, Curchorem were accepting cheque payment but were issuing receipt only after three days of the payment.
