Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Water supply Bill passed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Assembly passed the Kerala Water Supply and Sewerage (Amendment) Bill on Thursday.

The Bill seeks to check theft and misuse of water including use of unauthorised water connections by empowering the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to fine offenders. It also authorises the KWA to manufacture and market packaged drinking water and invest in public sector companies with the approval of the government.

The Bill had provisions to regulate the functioning of plumbers and fix charges for their work. Licensed plumbers will have to be employed for works related to pipes and sewers.

Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran, who piloted the Bill, accepted certain amendments to the Bill proposed by the Opposition such as those for incorporation of appeal provisions against action taken by officers of the water authority.

Replying to the debate on the Bill, the Minister said that the mindset of the personnel in KWA needed to be changed to achieve its goals. He did not accept the Opposition criticism that the authority should not be entrusted with more functions on account of its failures and extravagant use of funds.

The Subject Committee had reported the Bill with dissent notes from the Opposition members who maintained that the punishments proposed were too severe and disproportionate to the offences.

Congress leader Thiruvanchooor Radhakrishnan said a comprehensive law needed to be enacted with a view to achieving the objective of drinking water for all.

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