Pune: In a shocking case of billing error, a 75-year-old senior citizen from Shaniwar Peth received a water bill of ₹10.76 lakh from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The incident has raised concerns about the accuracy of the municipal billing system. Despite filing a complaint, the affected citizen has yet to receive a concrete resolution from the authorities.
Billing Error Causes Distress
Govind Gore, a resident of Shaniwar Peth, was taken aback when he received a message from the municipal corporation notifying him of an outstanding water bill. Since he had regularly cleared his water charges, the notice came as a surprise. Upon reviewing the message, he was shocked to find that the due amount was ₹10,76,059.
Upon further investigation, Gore discovered that the bill did not belong to him. The billing number was incorrect, and the registered address was "Shanivar Peth, Nava Pool," which did not match his residence. However, his mobile number had been mistakenly linked to the erroneous bill, resulting in the false charge being reflected in his name.
Senior Citizen Demands Justice
Distressed by the unexpected financial burden, Gore immediately approached the Pune Municipal Commissioner and the Water Supply Department to file a formal complaint. He has demanded that the bill be canceled and that strict action be taken against those responsible for the mistake.
"I have lodged a complaint, but no official has provided a clear resolution. They have only given vague assurances that the bill will be corrected. Seeing such a massive amount on my bill caused my blood pressure to rise. If anything happens to me, will the municipal corporation take responsibility?" Gore expressed his concerns. He has also demanded the suspension of officials responsible for the error.
Municipal Corporation Responds
Meter reader Sanjay Shinde acknowledged the mistake and clarified that the error occurred because Gore’s mobile number was incorrectly linked to another bill. He assured that the issue would be rectified soon.