Mangaluru: In a bid to reduce water theft, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has decided to install as many as six advanced automated digital water reader at six industries, who are the bulk water consumers.

Mayor Mahabala Marla told press persons on Wednesday that the digital meters are bought at an estimated cost of Rs 55,000 each. These meters will ensure that there is no water meter tampering”, he added.

Earlier, newskarnataka.com had published an exclusive report of water meter tampering by billing agent, which was caught on video by social activist Dr. Deepak D’Souza.

Mayor said that the six industrial units, where the meter would be installed are UB Group, Scientific Sollutions Private Limited, Ruchi Soya, Baby Marine Food Private Limited, Rajashree Packers and Strydes. The units are chosen as their water consumption is high.

These digital water meter readers will have the count of quantity of water used, using software, which will be placed in the city corporation. Hence, tampering is impossible. Even if there is an attempt to tamper, the control room at the corporation gets the clue, a source in the corporation told newskarnataka.com.

The meters will be installed anytime from now. It will help the civic body to know if it was getting revenue on par with the actual water consumed or there was tampering in the past, the source added.

Mandatory in apartment

Mayor also said that there is a discussion within the council to make it mandatory for all the apartment and commercial complexes to install these meters at their own cost. “It’s difficult for the MCC to install these meters at every household. It’s expensive. Hence, we are planning to include the installation of automated digital water reader in every apartment, he said.

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