Hyderabad: OTS scheme to clear pending water bills has hardly 10% takers
Hyderabad: Of the 13.50 lakh drinking water connections in Hyderabad, around seven lakh consumers are eligible for the one-time settlement (OTS) scheme, which allows them to clear pending water bills without paying interest for their delays. But for all the benefits that come along, only 10 per cent of people have availed of the OTS Scheme.
Nagendra P, a local shopkeeper, said that he had heard about the OTS scheme only recently. He’s not alone in this category. This came to the fore when Deccan Chronicle interacted with locals.
The OTS scheme is designed to help citizens who have struggled to clear pending bills after waiver of interests. It also boosts the revenue of government departments, enabling them to become more self-reliant. However, without appropriate promotion, the scheme may not reach its full potential, says Sai Teja, an activist.
Gauthamal. V raised serious concerns about third-party recovery agents. She contends that such agents and finance companies often mislead the public. They push OTS without clearly explaining its impact on credit scores, which can drop by 75-100points, she said.
Ramana Kumar raised concerns over the billing issues. “I’m using the 20KL free water scheme, where bills should be issued only if usage exceeds 20KL. But I am getting bills even on limited usage of water. Why should I pay for something I haven’t used?”
Another person wanted to know why they were being billed despite receiving water only every alternate day, he added.
Some people also revealed that consumers must provide an undertaking letter to pay bills regularly over the next 24 months, which is making them hesitant to opt for the OTS scheme thinking of the consequences that might come up in the future if they fail to pay the bills.