Nagpur News : Following an expose by an Sanjay Agarwal, an RTI activist, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has snapped water supply to the Empress City and Empress Mall as it is also a part of Empress City. The civic body was not taking any action against Empress City despite its water tariff arrears mounting to Rs 16.50 crore.
Also read : Empress City owes Rs 16 cr water bill; No recovery yet, supply unabated
After obtaining information under the RTI Act, activist Sanjay Agrawal had exposed NMC water works department’s lack of action in the issue. The Rs 16 crore arrears amount to a whopping 19% of the annual revenue of the water works department.
NMC executive engineer Azizur Rehman while speaking to media representative of local daily informed that water supply was disconnected on Thursday. “KSL Industries, the project owner of Empress City, had raised an objection about the water tariff being levied by the NMC in 2009. NMC had asked KSL to pay the arrears according to its estimation so that a final adjustment could be done after the order on the objection. But since KSL did not pay the amount, Orange City Water Private Limited proposed to disconnect the water connection,” he said.
A senior NMC official said Empress City also owes huge amount of property tax arrears. “The township and mall ran into controversy with layout and building plan violations. KSL Industries submitted a revision building plan but NMC rejected it. KSL was asked to ensure payment of entire property tax amount and bank guarantee for township,” he said.
Also Read : KSL Group offered ex-Mayor plush flat to cover goof up in Empress City designs
