KWA defaults on dues, KSEB cuts supply A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Monday observed that the government should take a policy decision to privatise the drinking water supply in the State.The Bench comprising Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair and Justice Babu Mathew P. Joseph made the observation while hearing appeals filed by the Kerala State Electricity Board against a single judge's order directing the KSEB to restore electricity connection to the water authority's offices in various districts. The supply was disconnected following the failure of the water authority to pay arrears due to the KSEB. The court directed the Advocate General to get the view of the government on its suggestion on privatising the drinking water supply and apprise the court of its stand. ‘Ineffectiveness' The court observed that the KWA had “proved not only their ineffectiveness in catering to the drinking water needs of the people but also was unable to pay for the essential services such as power charges”. The court said that since the KWA and KSEB were essential services, the court could not permit disconnection of power supply to the pumping stations of the KWA nor could it allow the KWA to react to the KSEB's action by cutting water supply to the Board's offices. The Bench observed that the government had to find a solution to the problems faced by the KWA and KSEB. The court directed the Advocate General to get instruction on the schedule of paying up arrears of the power charges by the Authority. The KSEB contended that a huge amount was due from the Kerala Water Authority towards electricity charges. In fact, the KSEB was facing acute financial crisis. The board took out loans whenever the arrears went up and had to pay a huge amount as interest, which would be passed on to the consumers. In fact, the defaulters among the domestic customers were few. The biggest defaulter had been the KWA. In a one time settlement in 2008-09, the Board had waived arrears to the tune of Rs.324 crores. It was in the public interest that the Board had refrained from disconnecting the power supply to the pump houses of the Authority, the Board said in its petition. Single judge had asked KSEB to restore supply High Court asks government to find solution