DHENKANAL: Water flows uninterrupted through the pipes of Public Health Engineering (PHED) Department despite Rs 79-lakh dues. Lack of enforcement on the part of PHED is being attributed to the revenue loss. According to official sources, major defaulters include government departments with Rs 80,000 pending on the Collector’s office and Rs 5 lakh on circuit house.While domestic consumers owe Rs 54 lakh, government offices are to cough up Rs 20 lakh. It is the same state of affairs at Kamakshyanagar and Bhuban Notified Area Council areas.PHED charges Rs 3.25 and Rs 10.20 per 1000 litres for domestic and commercial purposes respectively in Dhenkanal municipal area comprising 23 wards. As many as 1,923 connections have been provided to domestic, commercial and government departments. The water is drawn from the Brahmani river. While the Government departments have faulted in paying the dues, a PHED official was recently suspended for disconnecting water supply to the circuit house during the Chief Secretary’s visit.PHED Assistant Engineer Bhawani Shankar Mohanty said they do not have flow metre to regulate supply of water. Consent of higher authorities has been sought for the purpose, he added. ADM Babaji Charan Das said measures would be taken to settle the dues. The Collectorate said funds are yet to be allotted for water dues.
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