Lack of Water Meters Violates Population�s Rights

Baku / 20.12.18 / Turan: Turan received a complaint from a resident of apt. 6 house 7 on Anashkin Street in the Sabunchu district of Baku Elshan Hasanov, who considers himself deceived by employees of the Water Canal Deepartment of the Sabunchu district. In a telephone conversation, Hasanov explained that in 2016 the controller of this office called Eldaniz offered him to arrange payment for water without a meter, according to the state standard for family members. He promised to report the code by which it is necessary to transfer payment.

The head of the family agreed and issued to the controller a certificate from the housing department, according to which he lives in the apartment together with his wife. For the service and use of water, the controller took AZN 85 from Hasanov.

Elshan Hasanov is the head of the Political Prisoners Monitoring Center and coordinator of the Union for the Freedom of Political Prisoners. He is a former prisoner of conscience, convicted of participating in a rally on April 2, 2011.

For two years, the family used water, the controller did not appear and the payment code was never reported. Three months ago, the Hasanov family received a notice of debt for used water in the amount of 180 manat.

Counting 0.35 manat per five cubic meters of water per person per year (this is the norm established by the Tariff Council for houses that do not have a water meter) Hasanov understood that his family is registered in the Water Canal Department as consisting of four people.

At a reception at the Deputy Head of the Sabunchu district, Elman Aliyev, Hasanov explained that two years ago he had given Eldaniz a certificate from the housing department about two family members, and asked for the debt count to be reduced by two people. However, the official was rude to the citizen, said that he had not received a certificate from the controller, and offered to complain "anywhere."

Returning home, Elshan Hasanov called Eldaniz, recording the conversation on the recorder. Eldaniz confirmed receipt of a certificate from him and assured that two years ago he had passed the certificate to the Office. He promised to find it out and inform him, but he did not keep his word. The audio recording of the telephone conversation is available in the editorial office.

E. Hasanov sent a complaint to the Prosecutor General's Office, asking to deal with the scam at the Sabunchi Water Canal Department.

On December 19 and 20, journalists called the Sabunchi branch of the Water Canal Department (tel. 4254844) four times, but Elman Aliyev did not pick up the telephone receiver, and the operator said he was "a man of action and went to inspect the facilities".

The history of deception of the citizen Elshan Hasanov emphasizes the importance of refusing to pay for water by the number of registered residents, and switching to meters. Such deception of citizens is common in all parts of the country. For some reason, Azersu automatically bills based on the fact that the number of family members in Azerbaijan consists of 4 people, ignoring certificates provided by citizens. This problem was raised in the media many times, but has not been resolved. -0--