Prayagraj Jal Kal Department Intensifies Crackdown on Water Tax Defaulters
The Jal Kal department in Prayagraj is ramping up efforts to tighten enforcement against significant water tax defaulters, with a particular focus on four prominent hotels that have accumulated dues amounting to lakhs of rupees. Officials have expressed frustration over the failure of these establishments, which are among the city's top revenue generators, to settle their pending water and sewer bills, leading to the initiation of stringent recovery measures.
Recovery Measures and Interest Waiver Scheme
This crackdown coincides with the department's offer of a comprehensive interest waiver scheme designed to incentivize consumers to clear outstanding payments. Authorities are urging residents to deposit their pending water and sewer bills, even if through installments, to avoid punitive actions. The department has already taken initial steps by disconnecting sewer connections from 30 houses and water connections from 27 properties in the first phase of the drive.
Upcoming Disconnection Drive and Strict Policies
In the coming weeks, officials have planned a large-scale disconnection drive to target additional defaulters. Executive engineer Shivam Mishra emphasized that once a connection is severed, it will not be restored until the entire outstanding amount is fully cleared. The department will also conduct follow-up inspections to prevent illegal reconnections, with penalties imposed on consumers who attempt to restore supply without authorization.
Potential Administrative Interventions
If defaulters continue to ignore notices, the department may escalate the situation by seeking administrative intervention, which could include property attachment or even the sealing of buildings. According to departmental data, there are 2.32 lakh water and sewer connections within the municipal limits. Of these, 1.06 lakh consumers have cleared their dues, while nearly 1.26 lakh consumers remain delinquent on their bills. So far, approximately 25,000 consumers have received pre-recovery (pre-RC) notices as part of the enforcement process.
