Citizens with water supply complaints will now find it easier to approach the BMC with their grievances. The civic body has planned to launch a communications unit, dedicated exclusively to receiving complaints related to the hydraulics and the water supply department and the sewerage department. Meanwhile, it is also in the process of starting a training and exhibition centre at Powai, which is due to launch within the next year.
However, the civic body has planned to outsource the entire complaint redressal system to a private party. An official of the hydraulics department said, “We are strictly outsourcing the complaint redressal system to a call centre, so that there is a dedicated mechanism exclusively for the hydraulics department.” Presently, the department receives complaints related to water supply, pipeline bursts and water contamination problems on its helpline number, 1918, which is not exclusively for the hydraulics department.
The BMC plans to organise an exhibition at the training and exhibition centre, which will run through out the year. It has planned to exhibit working models of water supply installations, water treatment plants, dams, and pumping stations. The official said, “Our plan is to let people see how water actually reaches their household, and how much goes into making the water supply system work. It will be open to all school and college students and the general public throughout the year.”
The BMC plans to run courses for its staff through out the year. These courses will include induction courses for new recruits and refreshment courses for all existing staff. These courses will be available to over 800 engineers of the hydraulics department.
