GIS Survey To Identify Illegal Tap Connections, Will Legalise Them

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Bhopal Municipal Corporation will launch a Geographical Information System (GIS) survey to identify illegal tap connections and then legalise them. The move aims to address an estimated 80,000 illegal water connections, according to BMC water works department.

Official records indicate that there are over 2.7 lakh legal water connections. However, BMC suspects a significant number of illegal connections existing in areas like Ibrahimganj, Shahjahanabad, Chowki Imambara, Nariyal Kheda, Tila Jamalpura, Gautam Nagar, Nishatpura, Aishbagh, Arif Nagar, Qazi Camp.

BMC officials believe that legalising tap connections will generate substantial revenue for the corporation, which has been cutting connections of 800 defaulters every year.

Of them, 500 reconnect illegally. The GIS survey will cost approximately Rs. 1.3 crore and is expected to take one year to complete. Following the survey, door-to-door action will be taken against the defaulters.

Using drones

The GIS survey will be done using drones and cross-reference property IDs with the revenue department to identify illegal connections. The city has over 5 lakh residential properties and the survey will cover all of them.

‘Will not tolerate’

BMC chairman Kishan Suryvanshi said no illegal water connections would be tolerated in the city. “Regular actions are taken against offenders. This survey is a significant step towards tackling illegal connections and boosting city’s revenue from the water supply.”