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Wasa bill books for consumers now March 11

MIZANUR KHAN
The Dhaka Water Supply Authority (Wasa) has once again bpostponed the date set to issue ill books to consumers because of the countrywide strike called yesterday by four opposition parties in protest of the attack on writer Humayun Azad.
Wasa authorities earlier an-
nounced that bill books would be issued on March 6. "We will now start the distribution in a programme on March 11 at Lalmatia," said A N H Akhter Hossain, Wasa's Managing Director (MD).
Abdul Mannan Bhuyian, Minister of Local Government Rural Development and Cooperation (LGRD) will inaugurate the programme. Simultaneously
Wasa will issue ID cards to its meter readers to ensure a harassment free service.
"The meter readers and officials will be provided with identity cards embedded with a photograph of the individual concerned," said Hossain.
Wasa MD said meter readers will visit holdings every month and prepare bill 'in the presence of the consumers' starting
this month.
Every consumer will retain the 5-year bill book, which will be provided to him. The meter reader, on his monthly rounds will check the meter, prepare the bill and sign it, Wasa sources said.
The water supply authorities currently have about 2.15 lakh consumers under eight zones in the city.
Among the eight, three have been leased out to Dhaka Wasa Consumer Goods Suppliers' Association.
Under the present system, meter readers of the leased out zones issue computerised bills every month. On the other hand, manual bills are distributed in four zones and computerised bills in another zone once in two months.
"The new system is being introduced to stop consumer harassment and false billing. This will also help reduce system loss with a steady increase in revenue earnings," said a top Wasa official.
According to the new system, Wasa revenue officials will visit holdings in different areas every month to see for themselves whether or not the meter read-
ers have done their duties. They will also certify the bill books are in order.
The chief and deputy chief revenue officers of the Wasa will also join the monthly drive, sources said, adding that all these steps are aimed at "ensuring correct meter reading and preventing consumer harassment".
He said that over 60,000 hold-
ings, most of them in old Dhaka still do not have meters.
They will get bill books immediately after installation of meters. The agency has already procured 12,000 meters and they will be installed within the next three months, he assured.
All consumers in the city will have meters by the end of this year, informed Wasa sources informed.