The New Delhi Municipal Council

(Filtered Water Supply) Bye-laws, 2006.

 

 

[File No. Policy/2003-2004/EE(W/S].

 

The New Delhi Municipal Council, New Delhi propose to make  the following bye-laws under section 388(1)B read with  section 391 of the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994(Act. No. 44 of 1994) relating to filtered water supply namely:-

“The New Delhi Municipal Council

(Filtered Water Supply) Bye-laws, 2006.

 

1.         Short title, commencement and applicability.--

(1)                These bye-laws may be called “The New Delhi Municipal Council (Filtered Water Supply) Bye- Laws, 2006”.

(2)                These bye-laws shall apply to New Delhi.

(3)                These bye-laws shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

 

2.         Definitions.--  In these bye-laws, unless the context otherwise requires--

(1)               “Act” means the New Delhi Municipal Council Act, 1994 (44 of 1994);

(2)                “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Council and includes a municipal officer or other municipal employee authorized by him by order under section 400;

(3)               “charges” includes any rates, tariff, duty, cess, deposits, rentals, surcharge, development charges or any other charges levied by the Council or payable to it;

(4)               “consumer”  includes any person in whose name a water connection is registered in the office of the Council;

(5)               “departmental charges” means the charges fixed by the Chairperson for defraying its establishment and overhead costs in respect of any work;

(6)                “person” includes  a company or an association or a body of individuals or persons, whether incorporated or not;

(7)               “plumber” means any person licensed under the Act or under the bye-laws made by the Council to work as licensed plumber;

(8)               “section” means a section of the Act; and

(9)               The words and expressions not defined in these bye-laws, but defined in the Act, shall unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings assigned to them in the Act.

 

3.         Application for grant of water connection.--

 

(1)               Any person being an owner/occupier of premises may apply to the Executive Engineer (Water Supply) on prescribed Form-I attached to these bye-laws for supply of filtered water to the said premises for domestic or non-domestic purposes.

(2)               For permanent water connection:


(a)             In the case of owner of premises,--

(i)         Where it is a new building or premises, he shall deposit completion plans showing the building or premises to which a water connection is required and the proposed size and alignment of the pipelines to be laid.  Such plan shall show the position of stop valves, washing cisterns, sinks, taps, hot water boilers and all other fittings to which a supply of water is to be given or from which water is to be taken.  

(ii)               Where it is an old buildings, he shall submit service plan duly signed by a licensed plumber showing existing and proposed water connection and also submit latest copies of house tax receipts and of electric/water bills.  In case sanctioned completion plan is not available with him, he shall submit an affidavit as per Form-II.

 

(b)       In the case of a tenant, he shall submit service plan showing existing and proposed water connection, rent receipt/no objection certificate from the landlord or any other proof of tenancy such as copies of latest electricity bills/water bills and also an affidavit  in the prescribed Form-III  that no unauthorized construction exists in the premises.  Such water connection granted to the tenant may continue till there is a change in tenancy in which case the new tenant will have to apply afresh for new water connection.

 

(3)               For temporary water connection:

A temporary water connection may be granted for a specific period for religious/social functions, exhibitions, and also for providing drinking water to labourers of construction work or for other purposes.

(4)               Deposits, the scale of the amount of which shall, from time to time, be fixed by the Council, shall be made by the applicant in the treasury of the Council, in respect of the following items:-

 

(a)       Inspection fees and other fees.

(b)       Cost of joining the applicant’s pipes with Council’s mains.

(c)        Cost of fixing one or more water meters for the connections.

(d)       Security deposit.

(e)       Road restoration charge, as per the prevailing quality of the road.        

 

4.         Power of entry and inspection.---Presentation of the application under bye-law 3 shall be deemed to authorize the Chairperson to enter the premises after reasonable notice and between sunrise and sunset, and to inspect, examine and test the applicant’s pipes, taps, and receptacles with which connection is to be made , and the drains, water closets, receptacles and latrines into which water received is to be discharged.  He may give such directions as to maintenance, repair, renewal and alteration of the existing system of water supply and sewerage disposal as he may think fit.

5.         Rejection of application.---

 

(1)       An application for grant of water connection is liable to be rejected if--

 

(i)         save as other wise provided in sub-bye-law (3) of bye-law 3, the building is not complete and declared fit for occupation by the competent authority, or

(ii)        the deposits referred to in sub-bye-law(4) of bye-law 3 have not been made.

 

(2)       The Chairperson may, after such examination of the applicant’s premises and the system of piping as he may deem fit, reject the application if the work has not been done according to the requirements of the bye-laws :

 

                        Provided that the applicant will be given an opportunity to represent his case before his application is rejected. 

(3)       In case the application is rejected, the applicant shall be refunded the deposit, if any, made by him under sub-bye-law(4) of bye-law 3, after deducting the amount of inspection and other fees.

 

6.         Acceptance of application.---  If the application is not rejected under bye-laws 5, it shall be deemed to have been accepted. The Chairperson may grant a connection and levy charges at such rates as may be fixed by the Council, from time to time.

   

7.         Who is a consumer.---  (1)  As soon as a connection is made, the applicant shall be deemed to be the consumer in respect of said premises:

            Provided that the name of the consumer in case of supply of water for domestic purposes, in the case of his death, may be substituted in favour of legal heir or any blood relation on depositing a substitution fee of Rs. 1000/-(Rupees one thousand only).

 

                        Provided further that where there has been mutation of property in the house tax Department necessary substitution of the name of the consumer in respect of supply of water for domestic purposes, may be allowed subject to the condition that he deposits a substitution fee of Rs. 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

 

            (2)       For any change in the name of consumer for supply of water for non-domestic purposes, the party will have to apply afresh.

 

 

8.         Quantity of water consumed.—Testing of meters  

(1)       It shall be presumed that the quantity indicated by the water meter provided by the Council has been consumed.

(2)       A consumer may, however, challenge, in writing, the accuracy of the meter reading by depositing a testing fee of Rs. 100/- (Rupees one hundred only) or as decided by the Council from time to time.  On being tested, if the meter is found to be inaccurate by more than 5%, testing fee shall be refunded to the consumer and necessary assessment for consumption of water will be made on the basis of test results found in respect of old meter and future readings of new meter taking into account various factors.  If it is 5% or less, the difference in quantity shall be ignored, but the meter shall be got replaced, wherever considered necessary.

 

(3)       If it is not possible to provide a new meter, for any reason whatsoever and the water meter is found defective, the charges for water supply shall be worked out on the basis of average consumption during the corresponding period of previous year.  Consumer may however, provide his own meter after getting calibration and test certificate duly approved by the Chairperson.

 

(4)       Wherever the Council does not provide a water-meter, for any reason whatsoever, the consumer may procure his own water-meter (together with a test report) of any brand approved by the Chairperson in which case meter rent shall not be charged from him.

9.         Water charges, etc.---  A consumer shall be liable to pay the following charges:-

 

(1)               Meter rent, if a meter is fixed for his connection by the Council, according to the rate for the time being in force.

(2)               Cost of fixing, maintaining and altering the connection pipe, meter and stop cock according to the rate for the time being in force.

(3)                Water rate calculated either according to the size of the ferule or according to the reading of the meter or according to the flat rate, which may have been fixed by the Chairperson.

(4)               Cost of damage, if any, and for loss of meter, stop cock, surface box and all other material installed by the Council.

 

10.       Fixing of flat rate.---  The Chairperson may fix a flat rate for any connection for any given period.

11.       Serving of Bills.---  The Chairperson shall serve a bill on the consumer for the amount due for the water connection and the charges for water supplied as per section 64.

 

12.       Payment of Bills.---  Within such time as may be fixed by the Chairperson, the consumer shall pay to the Council, the amount shown in the said bill notwithstanding any objection he has or may have to make as to correctness.

 

13.       Water supply to be regulated.--- The Chairperson may from time to time regulate and limit the hours of water supply in any area or for any purpose or for any other reasons which he may deem fit.

 

14.       Cutting or turning off water supply.---

(1)       The Chairperson may cut off or turn off water supply without notice if the consumer:-


(a)       requests that the connection may be disconnected; or

(b)       has failed to pay his bill within the prescribed time; or

(c)        is causing or suffering waste of water from his pipes or makes or suffers unauthorised use of it on account of using potable water for washing of roads/paths and for irrigation of lawns, etc. or
(d)       is causing willful waste or unauthorized use of the Council’s water; or
(e)       on expiry of period of validity of temporary water connection.

             

(2)       The Chairperson may,--
(a)       cut off any connection temporarily, without any notice, if water is needed for any pressing and important public purpose, or to make another connection or repairs.

(b)       Cut off water connection without any notice, if building has been demolished.

 

15.       Application for disconnection/reconnection.--- 

 

(1)       Applications for disconnection or reconnection shall be made in writing atleast 14 clear days in advance of the date on which it is required.

(2)       Fee for disconnection or reconnection may be such as may be determined by the Council, from time to time.

 

16.       Alteration in position of connection.---  After obtaining written sanction from the Chairperson, a person may alter the position of connection from which he will lay system of piping. The applicant shall have to deposit necessary departmental charges, inspection fee, restoration charges of roads, lanes, road-berms or any other charges, as may be levied by the Chairperson.

 

17.       Obligations of a consumer.--- A consumer shall,---

 

(1)               maintain his system of piping and sewer in thorough working order and report to the Chairperson as soon as possible any defect arising therein. 

(2)               not alter or add to the system of his piping or sewer without written sanction of the Chairperson,

(3)               not permit any person other than a plumber licensed in this behalf to lay, relay, repair or in any way alter or add to his system of piping, in connection with premises connected with the water pipes of the Council;

(4)               not interfere with the meter or stop cock connected with his supply pipe;

 

(5)               not use or suffer or permit to be used a Council’s connection in such a way as to cause waste or unauthorized use of the Council’s water; and

(6)               not use or permit to be used any contrivance having the effect, at any time, of joining the Council’s system of piping with any other source of water or of joining the Council’s filtered water system.

 

18.       Service of notices, etc.---  All bills and notices required by the Act, or by these bye-laws to be served on a consumer shall be served in accordance with sections 353 and 354.

19.       Public hydrants.--- 

 

(1)       No person shall bath or wash clothes or other articles at a public hydrant, or tamper or damage a public hydrant, or draw or attempt to draw water from a public hydrant except by the proper method, or willfully waste or suffer to run to waste water from a public hydrant.

 

(2)       Any person wishing to draw filtered water from a public hydrant for work in a private premises, or for drinking purposes of labourers of construction work, he shall first obtain written permission of the Chairperson.  He shall pay for the water as registered by meter on commercial rates.

 

20.       Delegation of authority.---  Where under these bye-laws any act is required or authorised to be done or where any permission is to be given by or on behalf of the Council or the Chairperson, the same may be done or given by any municipal officer or other municipal employee authorised in this behalf.

21.       Penalty.---  Any person who contravenes any provision of these bye-laws is liable to be punished in accordance with the provisions of section 390 of the Act.