Water reform, Rama gives a 90 day grace period for consumers to regulate water connections

Water reform, Rama gives a 90 day grace period for consumers to regulate water

Learning from past mistakes with the energy reform, the government has decided to alter the procedures for the water reform currently being undertaken. In a move to motivate those customers who have illegal water connections to regulate their supply with the water supplier, UKT, all consumers (both families and businesses) will have a 90 day grace period to self-regulate their connections. 

The grace period was declared by Prime Minister Edi Rama and begins from today. The aim is to allow time for consumers to regulate their water connections with the water supplier, disrupting the illegal connections and paying of outstanding debts. 

Contrary to the energy reform, the government has decided to not penalize violations on water supply until February 1, 2018. In the first phase of the water reform, the Prime Minister criticized the inability of every government to appropriately utilize the natural resources of water. 

According to him the citizens can have water for 24 hours by using only 1% of the country's water resources. The government has announced the initiation of a national operation for clearing the water network of all illegal connections. 

According to the Prime Minister, in 27 years of transition, no government has managed to establish a water reform in order to provide all consumers with water supply for 24 hours. The Prime Minister expressed that bad management by every party which has ever been in power is to blame for the current situation. 

The Minister of Energy, Damian Gjiknuri warned that after February 1, penal procedures will commence against anyone and everyone found in violation. 

"There will be verification and door-to-door intervention for each consumer of drinking water. "The inspection and monitoring groups have no choice but to proceed with cutting all illegal connections and commencing penal procedures in cases in violation of the law past February 1st" - declared Minister Gjiknuri. 

Currently, 270 000 families or businesses operate without water meters to measure consumption and the government aims to bring this phenomenon to an end by June 2018. The operation also predicts to formalize individually opened wells and equipping them with water measuring devices also. Local units and prefects will be coordinating the national operation of the water reform with the support of the federal government.

EMISIONET