CHENNAI: The Chennai Corporation sealed eight shops at a shopping complex near Egmore for defaulting on payment of Metro Water taxes. According to officials, nearly 80 shops located inside the Alsa Mall Complex had evaded Metro Water taxes.
Subsequently, the Chennai Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB), which is the nodal agency, had issued notices to the shop owners before cutting sewer connection lines to the shops.
With the sewer lines disconnected, waste water from the shops percolated out into the streets and clogged the adjacent Montieth Road and Pantheon Road. As this was causing public nuisance besides posing a health risk, Zonal Health officials acted to seal the shops on the complex.
Speaking to City Express, Zonal Health officials said that a few shop owners came forward to pay their dues during the time of the raid. “As they paid their taxes, we let them off and warned them of severe consequences if they repeated it,” said an official.
According to Metro Water officials, the defaulters owed the agency Rs 86 lakh in unpaid taxes. Officials from Zone 5 of the Chennai Corporation along with CMWSSB officials conducted the raid.