TNN

Mangalore Mar 3: There is opposition from some quarters to the much appreciated spot billing system, introduced by M Maheswar Rao, when he was the administrator of the Mangalore City Corporation. The system, introduced on December 1 last year, not only benefited consumers, but also filled the coffers of the Corporation.

Opposition was to be expected anyway, as the spot billing also exposed a number of defaulters. There are those who have dues to pay, those with faulty meters and those whose meters have been non-functional over a long period of time.

Going by the success, the administrator had ordered for the extension of spot billing to the entire city limits from April 1. The MCC administration has decided to have a relook at the spot billing system. Mayor Ganesh Hosabettu told The Times of India, that he would discuss the matter with the party leaders and others in the MCC about the working of the system.

The system was introduced only in select areas known as the Pilot Zone. The zone, with 11,956 water connections, comprises Shivabagh, Bendoor, Court, Milagres, Valencia, Central Market, parts of Dongerkeri, Falnir, Bunder, Port, Cantonment, Attavar, Mangaladevi, Hoigebazar, Bolar wards. Spot billing revealed that 1,458 connections were disconnected and dismantled for non- payment of arrears. In other words, 12.19% of the connections were rendered unusable, as the cumulative arrears from these connections is Rs 51,92,635. Of these 1,458 cases, more than Rs 10,000 was due from 112. As per the spot billing rules, the meter readers of the contractors who undertake spot billing have to visit every connection in the zone every month and serve them the bill of the month.

Also, during their visits to the houses, meter readers found there were 994 connections where the instruments were not working. That means 8.30% of the total connections in the pilot zone are not working. In addition, about six illegal connections were also found which the MCC has asked to be regularised.

The system has done a world of good to the MCC’s coffers. The collections have more than trebled than before. The collection for February 2008 alone is Rs 47,73,940. For the same period last year, it was Rs 15,93,445. This is excluding the collection from the three major industries. For January 2008 the collection was Rs 25,97, 311 (it was 9,04,731 in January 2007).