Legislation to punish those who obtain water illegally: Vasu

The government will enact a piece of legislation to impose a jail term for having illegal water connections, State Minister of Water Supply and Drainage Vasudeva Nanayakkara said yesterday.

The Minister told Daily Mirror his office decided to do it as a measure for increasing the financial position of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. “I have drafted it to be handed over to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who is my Cabinet minister. He will present it to the Cabinet for approval,” the Minister said.

He said the Bill if enacted, would provide for charging the water bills for the entire period of illegal connection or imposing a jail term in the event of failure to settle them. Also, the Minister said non-revenue water is 40 per cent of the total amount supplied by the Board. Non-revenue water is water that is lost due to leakages and illegal connection. (Kelum Bandara)