Legality in Water Consumption, Gjiknuri: Fight without compromise on informality

At the introductory meeting of the commencement of the national operation for the fight against informality in the drinking water sector, Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Mr. Damian Gjiknuri emphasized the importance of this process. “Today we are facing another challenge and decision-making is aimed at undertaking a national operation for the purpose of good water administration, ending the abuse of lawlessness with it. We produce 20% more than it is needed like all of us had a 24 hour supply on 7 days a week. In 3 liters of water that is produced, only 1 gets billed, the rest is stolen and abused “- the Minister said in his speech.
Further, he stressed that for 20 years water utilities have been conceived as jobs for militants and not companies that should administer this public asset and that despite the investments made, there is no guarantee for the municipalities to increase the water supply performance, therefore he stressed it has become obligatory for the government to undertake this national operation to fight informality in drinking water.
“The main objective is that within 2018 each customer to be provided with a contract and a meter, to pay the obligations regularly and be aware of the importance of drinking water,” Gjiknuri further underlined, while anticipating meetings in the coming days with the executives of water supply to clarify how this operation will work.
“The central government will be the support, incentive, and monitoring effort to restore legitimacy to drinking water consumption. This will be a national action that will involve and engage almost all central and local institutions, since it is multifaceted and also, a very important part of this action is the full involvement of citizens and civil society, “said Gjiknuri .
According to the Minister, the operation will have the first stage of reflection and self-discipline that will last until early next year. “I take the opportunity to ask all citizens to use this awareness period to voluntarily reinstate the legality of water consumption. Water utilities must take measures to collect all receipts and debts. The first objective of this operation will be to respect the law by the state’s own institutions and public administration officials. There will be no tolerance. And this process of discipline will start immediately. The second objective is business, as there is no way to admit that a private enterprise pays less for water than a family. There will be door-to-door checks, even for every household customer, “explained Gjiknuri.
The second phase of the operation is that of coercion, which begins next year. There will be door-to-door verification and interference with each customer. Inspection and monitoring teams will need to proceed case by case with cutting of unlawful connections and criminal proceedings where appropriate.
“Each municipality should sign with the government a performance contract on the basis of which mutual obligations will be sanctioned. Supporting subsidies or investments will depend precisely on the performance and results in this operation. The refusal of subsidies and investments to take over under administration of the enterprises will be penalizing measures against the local units that do not prove the financial soundness of the water supply system, “the Minister warned, adding that in parallel with the field intervention will work to improve the legal framework, asset management. increasing human capacity and financial sustainability.