Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Feb 12: A sting operation has revealed the shocking way in which some billing agents tamper with water meters, in order to 'help' you pay less than the actual amount and in the process, dupe the MCC of lacs and probably even crores of rupees. Needless to add, they also charge you for the service, thus making a lucrative business out of tampering.

The video was stealthily captured by Dr Deepak D'Souza, professor at Yenepoya University and member of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The video shows an authorized water billing agent, identified as Thaufiq, tampering with the water meter and issuing the reduced, manipulated bill to the building owner at Bendur.

Dr Deepak D'Souza said that the meter reader with the MCC who came to issue water bill to his apartment, offered to provide him a manipulated bill by tampering the meter. He also demanded a fee of Rs 300 per Rs 1000 he reduced from the actual bill.

The agent reduced the water bill from Rs 21,000 to Rs 6,000 by tampering the meter, causing a loss of Rs 15,000 to MCC. He then demanded Rs 2,500 as his commission. The agent opened the water meter using a hammer, reversed the reading and fixed it back. He claimed that no one can spot the tampering as the seal remains intact, adding that it was a secret between only him and the owner. He also added that he does not do it for everyone but only for a chosen few.

He also claimed that when he came four months ago, he had stopped the meter from running which meant the water consumption was not recorded during this period. In the video, he said he started the meter again with a slight increase to save money.

In the video, the agent also admits that he has been faking the water bill for a few builders in the city. He apparently gives commission to other officers in computer section at the MCC and to the joint engineer (JE).

When Dr Deepak brought this menace to the notice of Lokayuktha officer, he expressed his helplessness about the menace and informed that the billing has been outsourced to private agency and that the meter reader was a private employee.

Dr Deepak approached MCC commissioner Hephziba Korlapati regarding the manipulation of meter and water bill, she assured to study the case and take adequate measures. He expressed his concern over the loss to the MCC revenue. The MCC normally earns a revenue of Rs 35 crore from the 80,000 connections within its limits.

At a press meet held here on Thursday February 12, AAP demanded a time-bound probe into the matter and suspension of the contract with the private agency. The party also demanded recovery of the loss suffered by MCC, and technical review and replacement, if needed, of all existing meters in the city.

Agency changed: Mayor

Speaking to daijiworld, mayor Mahabala Maarla said that the MCC received several complaints of water meter tampering by billing agents, and since February 1, the contract has been given to another agency. "The billing agent is not authorised to open the meter. He can only take a photo of the reading which gets uploaded on the system. Any further complaints can be brought to the notice of MCC. Dr Deepak D'Souza who shot the video can meet me in person," he said.

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