J&K consumer panel awards Rs 2 lakh for years without water

A consumer forum in Jammu and Kashmir has ordered the Public Health Engineering (PHE) authorities to pay Rs 2 lakh in compensation to a man who was denied a water connection for years despite paying the required fee. The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Baramulla/Bandipora, also awarded Rs 20,000 towards litigation expenses.

Mohammad Maqbool Dar, a resident of Srinagar, had deposited the fee but did not get water. He was forced to approach the High Court, which in November 2016 directed the authorities to provide the facility. The PHE only acted after that order. The commission, comprising President Peerzada Qousar Hussain and Member Nyla Yaseen, found the authorities deficient in service and rejected their defence that pipelines were damaged by locals.

The commission said providing water only after court intervention did not erase the deficiency. The PHE has 30 days to comply, failing which the amount will attract 10% annual interest.