The National Audit Office has reported that the Railway Department has incurred a total of Rs. 92,398,532 (ninety-two million, twenty-three lakh, ninety-eight thousand, five hundred and thirty-two) in water bills for the 546 Kotalawalapura railway houses under the Ratmalana Railway Department. This is due to an officer residing in these houses being charged only Rs. 5 per month for water bills.
The audit also reveals that the Railway Department is spending over Rs. 30 million annually on water bills for these 546 houses, which are part of the Ratmalana Chief Mechanical Engineering Sub-Department.
In its findings, the audit recommends the installation of water meters in these houses and emphasizes the need for better management of expenses.
In response, the Railway Department’s Accounting Officer informed the audit that new water meters have been installed in 509 of the 546 official houses, and the bulk water supply has been completed.
Furthermore, the Chief Accounting Officer clarified that water meters have been installed in the remaining 7 houses, which were not initially indicated as having meters, and these houses are currently unoccupied. The Accounting Officer also confirmed that, with the installation of water meters, water bills are now being collected as scheduled.
