Corruption in WASA

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Dhaka WASA collects Tk. 13.00 for supplying one cubic meter of water in case of domestic consumers while this rate is Tk. 42.00 in case of commercial consumers. It supplies water through one water meter to one building, comprising different types of WASA-classified consumers though there exist dozens of consumers. Since the individual consumers are unaware about their consumption, the WASA officials are at liberty to bill according to their will resulting in corruption or underhand deals. My office with ten members has an average monthly consumption of ten cubic meter against seventy cubic meter for my landlord comprising five member as per calculation of the aforesaid landlord. WASA officials are inclined to bill on 50:50 basis ie. forty cubic meter for commercial rate, totalling Tk. 1680.00. But the correct bill should be 420.00 only. Thus, I have no alternative but to negotiate with the WASA officials by 'paying' them regularly.
The LGRD Adviser may direct the WASA authorities to fix water meters to each and every consumer so that consumers are not compelled to adopt malpractices. The govt. may seek the assistance of the donor agencies to supply such water meters. The Higher courts may direct suo moto the WASA for addressing the grievances of the poor consumers.
Since the LGRD ministry was mostly headed by the general secretary of the political party in power, the govt., did not would not care for the consumers as LGRD staffs perform JS election duties.
It is time for the caretaker government and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to do something concrete during its tenure, up to January, 09. The ACC chief may look into the problems of the consumers of WASA-supplied water and do something to rid this utility service-providing agency of corruption.
Mahbubar Rahman
34, Siddeswari
Dhaka-1217