KMC to start online application for sewerage connection

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) is going to introduce online application for sewerage connection soon. 

The new system is likely to be made functional by the end of February. The applicants will be able to deposit money online either through their debit/credit cards or by logging on to KMC’s website www.kmcgov.in. The customers need to register themselves by logging into the website and then fill up the application forms online.

The applications sent by the individual owners will be scrutinised by the officials of the Sewerage and Drainage Department of the civic body. They will also go through the application forms. If everything is fine, the drainage department officials will inspect the spot before giving clearance. The system will take around seven days to give clearance to the individual applicants after reviewing their forms, said a senior official of the department.

The system will immensely benefit the residents as they will no longer need to come down to the KMC’s offices to fill up the forms for new swear lines in their houses or flats. It may be mentioned that KMC has put lot of stress on the customer services by simplifying the old systems after the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had instructed it to make the system hassle free so that civic services could be delivered to more people within a short time. 

A senior civic official of Sewerage and Drainage Department said the move would stem corruption in giving sewer connection. He said allegations had often been made by owners of new buildings that the employees of the department had asked for bribes without which they refused to work. Without sewer connection the KMC does not issue completion certificate and so the owner comply with the demands.

Mayor Sovan Chatterjee said the main idea of the present board was to make administration transparent and thereby stop harassment of house owners. “We will make the administration transparent and payment of fees online so that people do not have to come to KMC office to pay the money. The KMC is committed to provide better service to the people,” he maintained.