Over to you Chairman Water Board and Traffic Police

I had applied for two water connections as far as December 2006. Every time I phoned to find out about the delay I was told the officer was not in, phone later etc. and no one would attend at least to offer to ring back.

After two months of this, we lost the reference number and that was the end. I tried so many times by giving the date but no one was helpful.

Eventually, in March this year, I took the necessary documents and applied again and it was the same old story. I had given up but as the bill exceeds Rs. 5000 every month for five people in the house I thought I better try again. In the meantime I found the previous reference as well. So I phoned.

This time I was lucky. The man who answered the phone asked me why I did not come and see to it. However, he told me that they will have the estimate ready on the following day. As the following day happened to be August 4 which was a Saturday, I phoned on Monday and was asked to come.

When I went he told me the delay was due to the fact that I did not answer their phone call in January. Why could not they post the estimate, if no one answers a call? This was not true anyway as I have caller display and I always check.

Then I had to go to the Municipality to obtain a letter after payment in case of damage to the road. When I wanted to park my car, the three wheeler drivers would not let me park. They surrounded me and were abusive when I told them that there is no reason not to park as there was an available space.

However, rather than arguing with them, I parked elsewhere and got the necessary document from the Municipality. When I came out the three-wheelers had parked their vehicles obstructing me. Luckily for me, a Police officer was passing and he got them to remove their vehicles so that I could leave.

The three-wheeler drivers are a law un to themselves. They put boards as they like. When I pointed out that the board they had put up had no authority from the Police or the Municipal Commissioner, they were abusive. Where parking is so difficult, why are these people allowed to reserve vacant spaces for others.

Then I had to go to the Bank of Ceylon, Dehiwela and the Security officer there was most helpful. I had to deposit the money for the Water Board there. Why could not the Water Board accept the money at their office which accepts monies for bills?

Then I had to go back to the Water Board to give all these receipts. As the man told me to come there before 3 p.m., I rushed there. What he omitted to tell me was that they close the office for lunch. As I had to wait, I had to phone my brother to do something about my mother’s lunch as she is nearly ninety and would wonder what happened to her lunch which I supply.

The life could be less stressful, if higher officers in the Water Board check why connections have not been attended after an allocated time, and letters sent regarding progress. Also, the charges could be paid at their own offices.

As a person who had lived abroad for 20 years, I could easily see why this country does not progress as much as it should. Every office, bank I visited can make things much quicker by just being a little bit more thoughtful. The problem is the lack of training in customer care and the workers think that the customers are there to serve them rather than the opposite.

About the three-wheeler drivers, I hope the Police will definitely stop roads being reserved by themselves. Everyone should be entitled to park without obstructing entrances.

SEETHA WANIGATUNGA
Mount Lavinia