EARLY TIMES REPORT JAMMU, Jan 29 : As the battle of Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department against illegal water connections appears to be losing steam, it has launched media blitz warning one year imprisonment for defaulters as per the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act-2010. Sources said that though so far no one has been imprisoned for using water illegally but this new threat clearly shows the extent of unregistered connections in Jammu and Srinagar, two capital cities having sizeable number of users having piped water connection. In a state-wide campaign, PHE had given reference to Section 159 of Water Resources Regulation Act which makes it is an offence illegally withdraws water from the underground and under water pipes of the department laid for supply of drinking water to the population centres, commercial areas and industries. Sources said that unregistered connections are major reason for revenue shortfall a fact detected by an audit conducted by the government following directions from the central government to streamline drinking water supply under the provision of Water Regularity Authority Act.Few weeks back central government had made it clear that state needs to curb the illegal connections and wastage of water, before additional funds are sanctioned for streamlining the supply system in urban centres and towns of the state. Tampering with distribution pipes is offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be extended to one year or with fine which may extend to Rs 5000 or both, says the notice issued by Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU).Further the offence committed under Section 159 of the Water Act under Section-3 of the J&K Public Property (Prevention and Damage) Act-1985 will also entail imprisonment to six to five years.
Posted on: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 03:21:20 +0000