BENGALURU: At 6.30 pm on Thursday, senior citizen R Muralidharan commenced an indefinite fast for an unusual cause: to make defaulters of BDA flats in Kallahalli Second Phase, near Halasuru Lake, pay their water bills pending for the last 40 months.
The Rs 2.69 lakh pending bill has now shot up to Rs 11.61-lakh including penalty and interest levied by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
The 158 flats spread across 16 blocks get a common water bill. Of them, 21 flats have consistently not paid their monthly water bill of Rs 350 per family. The Water Board had issued a notice four months ago threatening to discontinue the connection to all due to the arrears.
Muralidharan, also an ad hoc committee member of the Kallahalli 2nd Phase BDA Flats Welfare Association declares, “I will not end my fast until the last defaulter pays up. We can sort out the penalty with BWSSB later but the Rs 2.69 lakh bill must be paid.”
This retired clerk of Karur Vysya Bank adds, “Despite repeatedly pleading with defaulting families and putting up notices on common boards, no one bothers. So I have taken this step.” His wife and two married daughters have been unsuccessful in dissuading him.
So far, the non-payment has not created any animosity here. “If BWSSB decides to discontinue water supply even for a day, then it will become a big issue among residents,” cautions RTI activist Kalidas Reddy.
Asked about it, a defaulter Srinivas questioned this reporter, “Who are you to question me?” Later, he relented, saying, “I have Rs 2 lakh worth bonds with me. I am ready to pay it in future after other issues with the association are sorted out.”
Krishnan S, who pays his bills regularly asks, “Is it not the duty of every family to pay for the water consumed?”
BWSSB Assistant Executive Engineer Jagadeesh says, “It is an internal matter and we cannot interfere. We issued a notice but have not yet disconnected water on compassionate grounds. The association has pleaded for a little time.”