The Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) collected Tk28.26 crore in revenue in September, marking a significant rise in monthly collections following intensified efforts to recover outstanding bills.
For years, the authority’s monthly revenue collection had remained largely between Tk18 crore and Tk20 crore.
The latest figures were disclosed by Md Abul Kasem, public relations officer of Chattogram WASA, in a press release issued on Thursday.
According to the revenue figures for September, the total collection stood at Tk28 crore 25 lakh 85 thousand. Of this total, water bills accounted for Tk26 crore 19 lakh 25 thousand, comprising Tk14 crore 19 lakh 11 thousand from current bills and Tk12 crore 14 thousand recovered from outstanding bills.
Additionally, the authority collected Tk80 lakh 57 thousand in surcharges, Tk65 lakh 50 thousand in deep tube-well fees, and Tk35 lakh 93 thousand in new connection charges.
Compared to August’s collection of Tk26 crore 80 lakh, monthly revenue increased by around Tk1.46 crore in September. The surge in revenue came after Chattogram WASA deployed eight special monitoring teams formed jointly by the revenue and engineering departments to accelerate the recovery of outstanding dues.
Working under the supervision of Sharmin Akter, deputy managing director (finance), these teams consist of executive engineers, revenue officers, revenue supervisors, and meter inspectors.
The teams conduct field inspections of connections held by consumers with outstanding bills of more than Tk25,000 and taking steps to recover the dues.
The two-month special drive is also aimed at updating consumer information and identifying illegal water connections as well as unlicensed deep tube-wells.
Authorities are taking legal action against those operating unlicensed deep tube-wells or using illegal connections, while mobile courts are being deployed to disconnect such connections.
Chattogram WASA data show that the authority currently has around Tk259 crore in outstanding revenue, with government departments owing Tk71.52 crore and general consumers accounting for Tk187.43 crore in unpaid bills.
Chattogram WASA Managing Director Engr Salim Md Jane Alam said the authority was placing special emphasis on revenue collection and had intensified area-based efforts to persuade consumers to clear their outstanding bills.
He noted that while previous efforts focused on recovering arrears of more than Tk50,000, the authority is now targeting consumers with outstanding dues exceeding Tk25,000.
To encourage greater efforts in arrears recovery, the authority recognised the performance of its field-level staff. Three-meter inspectors who collected the highest amounts of outstanding bills were awarded crests, while certificates were presented to members of their respective teams.
Reiterating the authority’s commitment, Engr Salim Md Jane Alam said, “Chattogram WASA is firmly committed to collecting government revenue. I urge our valued customers to comply with the law, obtain proper licences for connections and tube-wells, and settle their outstanding dues.”
