Mangaluru : A fortnight after launching a drive to collect water bill dues from bulk consumers, Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has collected Rs. 1.32 crore from major defaulters.

According to Raju Mogaveera, Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), MCC, Rs. 77 lakh was collected through cheques and Rs. 55 lakh in cash. Among those who paid the dues were two prominent hospitals — one at Kankanady and another at Ambedkar Circle which owed more than Rs. 1 lakh each. Some industrial units at Baikampady industrial area also paid.

Mr. Mogaveera said that officials disconnected 15 water supply connections for non-payment of dues after the drive started, and four consumers had since paid the dues.

He said that six teams had been set up for collecting the dues and disconnecting connections. “Our focus in the first phase will be on those defaulters who owe more than Rs. 1 lakh, though others are not out of the scanner,” he said. Bulk consumers included industries, institutions, hospitals, hotels and apartment complexes. The disconnection drive would continue, he said.

According to corporation records, Rs. 7.77 crore is to be collected from defaulters from six years.

Mr. Mogaveera said that of the 83,058 water connections, only 78,221 were live, but the contractor assigned the task of giving bills was not issuing them to about 20,000 such consumers.

He said the contractor claims that the 20,000 connections do not exist.

Reasons for the 20,000 connections “not being found” could be: building or houses for which the connections were given could have been demolished; the connections could have been disconnected due to non-payment of bills or other reasons; the property might have been sold to others or it could be due to clerical error in the corporation.