CHANDIGARH, April 16: — Cracking down on properties failing to install mandatory tertiary treated (TT) water connections, the Municipal Corporation (MC) on Tuesday issued a final 15-day ultimatum to violators, warning of financial penalties for non-compliance.
Officials said residential and institutional properties that do not apply for TT water connections within the deadline will face a penalty amounting to 7.5% of their total water bill, as per a resolution passed by the MC House in December 2024.
“Residents are requested to apply for the connections through the ‘I’m Chandigarh’ app in the next 15 days. Failure to do so will invite penalties,” said a senior MC official. “Special teams have been constituted to expedite the connection process. This is about conserving precious potable water.”
Under the Chandigarh Water Supply Bylaws, 2015, it is mandatory for all residential and institutional buildings sized one kanal and above to install TT water connections within three months of notification. However, of the 7,385 eligible households, only 3,334 have complied so far. The civic body has identified 4,051 violators, issued notices to 2,358, and received applications from 900 after the initial warning. The remaining are now under the 15-day warning period.
A similar trend is seen among institutions — only 154 out of 414 have installed the required TT connections. The remaining 260 establishments have been issued notices.
TT water, derived from sewage treated chemically and through sedimentation, is primarily used for irrigation. It must meet the standard of less than 10 mg/litre of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Chandigarh generates 220 million litres of sewage daily, treated at six STPs — 3BRD, Dhanas, Raipur Khurd, Raipur Kalan, Maloya, and Diggian — upgraded at a cost of ₹650 crore under the Smart City Mission.
The MC currently charges ₹50 per kanal per month for residential use and ₹7 per kilolitre for commercial users.
The drive falls under the City Water Action Plan (CWAP), which prioritizes use of TT water to reduce dependency on potable and groundwater.
Fines for Wasting Potable Water Begin
In a parallel enforcement effort, the MC also fined eight residents ₹5,788 each on Tuesday for wasting potable water during restricted morning hours. Additionally, 180 others were issued notices for violations such as washing cars, courtyards, or using booster pumps between 5:30 am and 9 am.
Photographic and video evidence was collected for each violation. “In the first instance, a warning is given with 48 hours to fix the issue. If not resolved, a challan of ₹5,788 is issued and added to the water bill if unpaid,” said an official.
The enforcement is part of the corporation’s now year-round water conservation initiative, expanded from its earlier seasonal campaign. Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar has urged residents to adopt sustainable water practices and ensure efficient usage.
MC began the public awareness campaign on April 12, with challaning initiated from Tuesday, marking a more assertive phase in its conservation drive.
