Mysore/Mysuru: Chamaraja MLA L. Nagendra has urged the Government to announce one-time waiver of interest on water bill dues of defaulters, who owe payment to Mysuru City Corporation (MCC).

Taking part in the ongoing Assembly Session at Bengaluru on Monday, Nagendra said that water bill dues in the MCC has run up to Rs. 220 crore, for which Rs. 74 crore interest has been levied on defaulters.

Arguing that the Government should waive off interest as a one-time relief in the interests of the poor, Nagendra said that the MCC had appealed the Urban Development Minister Byrathi Basavaraj in this regard when he visited Mysuru last month. Contending that it is not correct to burden the poor with interest, he reiterated that the Government should announce at least one-time waiver of water tax dues interest for the sake of the poor and weaker sections.

Minister Basavaraj, replying to the MLA, said that the MCC’s appeal for interest waiver has been sent to the Finance Department for approval. The Department would act based on the decision of Finance Department, he added.