Chattogram WASA (CWASA) has begun replacing 10,500 out-of-order, damaged and stolen water meters to ensure transparency in revenue collection and curb consumer complaints regarding average and inflated bills.
CWASA launched the replacement drive on 12 October, following tenders invited under the Limited Tendering Method (LTM) on 17 September.
On Wednesday morning, Engineer Selim Md Jane Alam, managing director of Chattogram WASA, inspected the meter replacement activity in the city’s Halishahar Boropool area.
During the inspection, he spoke with consumers and inquired about their problems, complaints and the necessity of changing the meters.
According to WASA sources, when water meters become damaged, non-functional or stolen, many consumers fail to replace them in time, leading to average billing under existing rules.
Later, discrepancies between regular bills and average bills cause dissatisfaction among consumers, prompting them to lodge complaints with WASA.
The initiative to replace defective meters was undertaken to ease consumer suffering, with WASA expecting consumers to be billed according to their actual water usage once new meters are installed.
Drive to curb ghost bills
Speaking during the inspection, Selim Md Jane Alam, managing director, said Chattogram WASA is committed to easing services for consumers. He explained that since joining WASA, he has received numerous verbal and written complaints regarding average, excessive and ghost bills.
He said an investigation into the root cause of these complaints revealed that consumers’ water meters were often damaged, out of order or stolen. As consumers delayed or showed reluctance in replacing them, WASA was obliged to issue average bills in accordance with rules.
“For the convenience of consumers, Chattogram WASA is replacing 10,500 meters,” Selim Md Jane Alam said. “As a result, respected consumers will receive bills based on meter readings. We will also be saved from complaints about ghost bills.”
He added that billing based on accurate meter readings would boost revenue collection and ensure transparency in bill management, while seeking the sincere cooperation of consumers to execute the activity.
Expressing satisfaction with the installation of new meters, consumers said the initiative would free them from the problem of average billing. They also thanked the managing director of WASA for taking various initiatives to improve water supply conditions and revenue collection.
Sharmin Akter, deputy managing director (finance) of WASA; Sazia Parveen, commercial manager; Rumon Dey, chief revenue officer; Erfanul Karim Sajjad, revenue officer; and relevant meter inspectors were present during the inspection.
