Surat: A construction contractor was forced to return the unauthorised charges they collected from residents of a society in Ward 4, Kapodra, following protests.
The agency that was allotted work to install a drainage line in the Rupali Society II returned Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,500, which was collected from residents without any formal approval. They approached AAP councillor Kundan Kothiya, saying that the agency staff laying the drainage line in the society was demanding an additional Rs 200 from each resident.
“The agency is already given work by SMC, and it is supposed to get the complete payment from the municipal corporation. In some cases, the contractors ask for money from residents as minor charges for damage repair or additional work. But the agency here collected labour and material costs from around 15 residents,” claimed Kothiya.
The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has also sought clarification from the agency regarding the charges collected. “Preliminary inquiry revealed that when the road was dug up, the agency’s staff noticed some damaged water pipeline or connection drainage line. The staff suggested if the residents wanted to get it replaced, and they agreed,” said an SMC officer in Varachha East Zone A.