We had to Pay an Unnecessary Cost for Water Connection

_{Photo by Steven Ungermann on Unsplash}

For the last few months, we have been waiting to get the water connection to our new house. Eventhough we could dig a well, the water doesn't taste that fresh as the land is close to the coastal area.

We have heard that there is a waiting list to have water connectivity. Hence just after finishing the house structure, we added our name to the waiting list for Water Board. It happened in 2021. Our number was something around 2700. Time passed with no news and on April 2022, we went to the office to check the current situation of the list. They were at 2450 and we realized that we are a little close.

On June 2022 we checked again and noticed the list was still at 2600. As you noticed there was no significant movement from April to June.

Then again at the end of August, it was already 2700 numbers, hence we filled out the application form and submitted it. "We will come within next week to take measurements," they said. At that moment we thought everything is now okay.

_{Photo by T K on Unsplash}

We waited for a week, two, or three but nothing happened. Then we had to use "other ways" to get the work done. "Other" doesn't mean bribe :) We gave them some gentle calls but every time they said, we will come tomorrow, and sometimes "we didn't come due to rain". Finally, we had to address them in a little aggressive manner as we are already waiting more than 1.5 years to get water. Also, some other people including Imantha, are involved to support this.

Finally, the measuring person came with another headache.

Doubled Price for Nothing

There are other houses on the same lane and our house is the one before last. Harith's house is located a few steps away from our house and they also had water recently. They had to add new wide pipes for a 150m distance. Because of that ideally, we are not supposed to have a new pipe for our house or any other nearby house.

We were confident enough as already we had pipe placed. At that time they spent only about 30 000LKR for connection. The surveying person measured the 150 m again and said that we need to pay for existing pipe. WT#?

The officer clearly stated that the new gazzet said to pay ~400+ LKR for every feet of the existing pipe from the junction. No matter if you don't move a single soil bit, you need to pay the amount. What kind of business it is?

We tried to negotiate a lot but they said that they can't do any changes. This will happen to you next time . We had to pay 77 000 LKR just to take water from a pipe that already exists.

I don't really understand why we are paying these kinds of meaningless payments to the government without a single progress. Once twice and thrice I wish all these selfish leaders to vanish.