CMWSSB refuses to update phone numbers of residents

Apart from lorry water booking, mobile phone number was made compulsory while making online payment of water tax and charges. “I do not know how my mobile phone number was incorrectly registered with the Metrowater. Due to this, I am not getting payment alerts and one-time passwords (OTP),” complained a resident of Injambakkam on the condition of anonymity.

When he approached the officials to make the correction, they allegedly refused. “They say that they stopped accepting petitions to change numbers from April.”

When asked, an official said that Metrowater stopped making corrections, as some tanker drivers misused the facility.

“Now we have introduced OTP system in lorry water supply, under which the residents should inform the number to drivers to get the water delivered. This prevents the drivers from selling the water outside. Due to the high demand for lorry water, some drivers change mobile phone numbers of customers without their knowledge and use it to book water that is then sold outside,” the official explained.

He added that they cannot process the applications until further orders from higher officials. Due to this, some residents whose mobile numbers were wrongly registered are struggling to book lorry water online. This is required even for booking by calling the Metrowater call centre.

“If some lorry drivers misuse the facility, Metrowater should take action against them. They should call the residents or visit them if they doubt the veracity of number change applications,” said VS Jayaraman of T Nagar Residents’ Welfare Association.