Mysuru: The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) drive to identify illegal water connections in the city and also collect outstanding water bill, entered the third day today.

The authorities undertaking the drive in Wards 14, 20, 55 and 56 yesterday.

Speaking to SOM, Vani Vilas Water Works (VVWW) Executive Engineer Anand said that there were 1,66,000 legal water connections in the city, with around 19,000 of them being defunct for various reasons.

It has also been found that there were more than 20,000 unauthorised connections and the MCC has launched the drive to legalise these connections and also recover due from water tax defaulters.

Pointing out that spot legalisation will be made if the house owners paid a sum of Rs. 3,115, Anand said that the economically-weaker sections can pay this sum in six instalments. The MCC will get an additional annual revenue of Rs. 6 crore if all the illegal connections are legalised, he said and added that however, water meters should be installed by the house owners themselves at their own cost.

Anand further said that two teams are taking part in the drive involving AEE Harshita, AEs Vinay Kumar, Prasanna, Kempegowda and other staff.