PMC issues stern warning over water meter resistance
The civic body aims to install 2.62 lakh water meters citywide to improve water management and monitor usage. While 1.85 lakh meters have been successfully installed, work on the remaining 1.77 lakh has been hampered due to resistance, particularly in core city areas such as Kasba Peth, Market Yard, Dhankawadi, Katraj, Yerawada, Sasanenagar, Mohammadwadi, and Peth localities.
'If someone interferes with the PMC's water meter installation work, their water connection will be disconnected and legal action will be initiated,' Chandran reiterated.
The initiative comes amid rising concerns over unauthorised water connections, population pressure, and significant losses due to leakages. In response, the PMC has divided the city into 141 zones to conduct a detailed water audit and assess consumption patterns.
Water resources minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil recently reviewed the city's water management and called for urgent repair of leakages and better monitoring systems. He underscored the need for optimal water use and supported regulation through metering.
While the PMC's target is to supply 150 litres of water per citizen daily in metered areas, political opposition has grown amid fears of public backlash. In many households, daily consumption for a family of four exceeds 500 litres, raising concerns that monthly bills could rise sharply once metering is fully implemented. Several sitting MLAs and former corporators have expressed reservations, citing voter discontent.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Disrespecting Gandhi statue: Kerala high court quashes case against law student
Kochi: High court has quashed the criminal proceedings initiated against a law student who was accused of disrespecting a statue of Mahatma Gandhi on the college campus by placing a pair of sunglasses and a Christmas wreath on it. The bench of Justice V G Arun, while allowing the student's petition to quash the case, observed that though the alleged act is undoubtedly immoral, it cannot be termed illegal in the absence of any law that prohibits or prescribes punishment for such conduct. According to prosecution, the incident happened at a law college in Aluva during preparations for Christmas celebrations in 2023. The student also allegedly commented that "Gandhi is long dead." The act was recorded on video and posted in student WhatsApp groups, which led to complaints being lodged with the college principal. Consequently, apart from the registration of a criminal case, the student was suspended from college for five days and fined Rs 5,000. Edathala police in Aluva registered a case against the student under IPC Sections 153 (wantonly giving provocation, with intent to cause riot) and 426 (punishment for mischief). Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Epson WorkForce Printers with PrecisionCore Epson Learn More Undo by Taboola by Taboola The student contended that neither any central legislation nor any state law prescribes punishment for defiling a statue of Mahatma Gandhi. To attract Section 153 IPC, the conduct must be not only wanton or malicious but also unlawful. Similarly, the allegations did not satisfy the ingredients of mischief under Section 426 IPC, as the act did not fall within the statutory definition of mischief. Accepting the petitioner's arguments, HC observed that immoral acts, behaviours considered wrong or unethical according to societal norms or personal moral frameworks, do not necessarily amount to legal offences. The court noted that even the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, does not contain any provision prohibiting the defilement of images or statues of national leaders. HC, however, noted that it is the moral duty of every Indian citizen to respect the freedom fighters who played a crucial role in liberating the country from colonial rule. In its judgment, it quoted the American historian Will Durant on Mahatma Gandhi: "Not since Buddha has India so revered any man. Not since St Francis of Assisi has any life known to history been so marked by gentleness, disinterestedness, simplicity of soul and forgiveness of enemies. "
News18
5 hours ago
- News18
Goa cash-for-job scam: 34 cases registered since 2023, says CM
Last Updated: Panaji, Aug 5 (PTI) At least 34 cases related to the alleged cash-for-job scam were registered in Goa between 2023 and mid-2025, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant told the legislative assembly on Tuesday. The majority of these cases are currently under various stages of investigation and chargesheets filed, while some cases are being tried in courts. The data revealed that several accused have already been arrested, but most cases have yet to lead to convictions. Sawant furnished the data regarding the alleged cash-for-job scam in response to a query by Congress MLA Altone D'Costa. The alleged scam had created a political firestorm in the state. Several complaints had been filed across Goa, with many government job aspirants alleging they were forced to pay lakhs of rupees to some persons under the pretext of facilitating employment, leading to the arrest of several individuals. The data tabled in the assembly on Tuesday shows more than 40 FIRs have been registered in various police stations under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for cheating, criminal breach of trust, forgery, and criminal intimidation. Multiple cases were registered in Mapusa, Panaji, Bicholim, Vasco, Porvorim, Ponda, Agacaim and Canacona. Interestingly, the Bicholim police station registered six cases in 2024 alone. The chief minister stated that in 2024, the number of such cases rose significantly, with multiple FIRs registered involving more than one accused. In several instances, including those in Ponda and Vasco, groups of individuals were allegedly involved in collecting money under false pretences of offering government or private sector jobs. PTI RPS NSK (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Indian Express
13 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Court accepts CBI's clean chit to Satyendar Jain in graft case
NEW DELHI: In a major relief for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, a Delhi court on Monday accepted the CBI's closure report in a 2018 corruption case related to the hiring of a creative team for the Public Works Department (PWD). Special CBI Judge Dig Vinay Singh approved the report, observing that the investigation found no evidence of criminal conduct, personal gain, bribery, or procedural violations. 'In the absence of any evidence and sanction, the present final report for closure of the FIR is accepted,' the judge noted. The case, registered in May 2018, named Jain and senior PWD officials under IPC Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The allegations centred around the appointment of a 17-member team of consultants via a third-party agency—Soni Detective & Allied Services Pvt Ltd—through alleged manipulation of tender procedures and dilution of eligibility norms. It was also alleged that payments to these consultants were routed through unrelated project expenditures without proper financial approval.
