People of Ullal protest against disconnection of public taps

People of Ullal protest against disconnection of public taps

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 13: Ullal Municipality has disconnected 200 of the 2,500 public taps that supply free water to nearly 8000 families in Ullal. The municipality intends to disconnect the other taps and provide direct water connections to the houses of consumers. 

But each domestic connection with cost consumers a security deposit of Rs 2,500, installation charges, plus a monthly tariff of Rs 60. Large commercial establishments will be charged a security deposit of Rs 8000 and a monthly tariff of Rs 150, while small commercial establishments will have to pay a security deposit of Rs 6,000 and a monthly tariff of Rs 160. Moreover, consumers will have to hire municipality licensed plumbers only for the installation of pipes and taps. 

The residents of Ullal, under the leadership of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), staged a protest in front of the municipality, alleging that licensed plumbers charge exorbitant rates. One of the protestors accused the plumbers of coming up with a scheme to rake in more profits, adding that the licensed plumbers are offering free connections and commissions to those who bring in business for them. Residents complain that, according to the rates charged by licensed plumbers, each installation might cost them anywhere between Rs 5000 - Rs 10,000. 

Confirming that the installation charges will have to borne by the consumers, Chief Officer of the Municipality B C Sadananda explained that the municipality had to tax the people because it had borrowed Rs 15 crore from the Asian Development Bank to lay a water pipeline between Ullal and Padil. The only way to pay off the loan is to pass the burden of it on the consumer, he said.  
The DYFI has threatened to intensify its protests. Muneer Katipalla, the President of the district unit of DYFI said that the DYFI will lay siege to the municipality office if it continues with its plans.

 
Mr. Sadananda responded that the disconnection of public taps has been discontinued for the moment. The issue will be discussed by the elected representatives of the municipality at a meeting, which will be held at the end of April.