Date:04/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/04/stories/2007040424890500.htm

Kerala

KWA stands to benefit from revenue adalat

Staff Reporter

The authority is likely to get Rs.21 lakh as dues

85 cases postponed due to time overrun

834 cases settled at adalat

KOCHI : The revenue adalat conducted by the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) for the consumers in the district on Saturday last will collect at least Rs.21 lakh for the authority.

The mutually agreed amount of remittance of water charge dues for 261 cases came up to Rs.21 lakh, according to the KWA officials. This amount would be remitted by the consumers before March 31, 2007.

The actual amount of remittance for 573 cases was yet to be finalised with mutual agreement. Eighty-five cases were postponed due to the time overrun on Saturday.

New dates

These cases will be heard at the Chief Engineer's Office on April 27.

The KWA officials are expecting the total remittance to cross the Rs.1 crore mark when the remittance amount from these consumers would also be taken into account.

According to Jochan Joseph, assistant executive engineer, KWA sewerage division, who was the Chief Nodal Officer for the adalat, there was 79 per cent participation of the consumers in the adalat.

A total number of 895 cases were disposed of out of the 1,100 cases. Out of this, 834 cases were settled and the amount of remittance for 261 cases was mutually agreed upon.

The number of unsettled cases were 61. The highest number of complaints had come from the Public Health Division, Pallimukku, with a total number of 831 complaints being registered. Out of the 1,100 consumers who participated, 625 were from the Pallimukku division. Out of the 895 disposed cases, 451 belonged to the same division.

Out of the 834 settled cases, 419 came from Pallimukku division. Out of the 261 cases in which the amount was settled, 152 were from this division. And, 267 of the 573 cases in which the amount was not yet arrived, also belonged to the Pallimukku division.

Among the settled cases 32 belonged to the same division.

A total number of Rs.9.5 lakh out of the Rs.21 lakh will be collected from the Pallimukku division.

As many as 85 consumers returned for coming back on March 27. They will be entertained on March 27. The amount to be collected from them would be calculated. The least number of cases were from Piravom division, with only four complaints being registered.

There was 100 per cent participation and 100 per cent settlement.

The complaints were mostly pertaining to water charge arrears and also to disputes about the water charge tariffs. Complaints on shortage of drinking water were not entertained this time.