Democratic Left Front leader and Water Supply Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara has decided to take his ministerial colleagues before court for not paying water bills, ministry sources said.

He has given instructions to the legal officers of his ministry to send letters of demand to ministers and MPs who continued to skip paying their water bills.

The instructions were given at a meeting held at the ministry on Friday where it was revealed that 48 ministers and MPs and former MPs have not paid the water bills of their official and private residences for years allowing arrears of over 10 million rupees to accumulate, they said.

Water Board officials pointed out to the minister that when the ministries were asked to settle these ministers’ bills, they had rejected the demands saying that the ministers themselves should settle the bills.

Nanayakkara contacted for comment said that the water board officials had sent red notices and he had personally asked his colleagues (ministers and MPs) to pay their dues, none has responded up to now.

“Officials at the meeting pointed out that owing to price increases in all other services and inputs, the Water Board too will have to increase the prices for water. Cost of inputs, including equipment and power at the treatment plants have increased causing the board to revise the water bills to avoid losses.

“Prices of water have not been increased for years. The water board could discontinue supplies of those who had not paid bills running above Rs 5,000 without prior notice. When officials suggested disconnecting supplies of those who have not paid, I instructed them to take actions against ministers and MPs before they take any action against the general public,” the minister said.

He said that the letters of demand would be sent to ministers and MPs tomorrow (31) and after the legal action the country would know the names of politicians who do not pay their water bills.

Minister Nanayakkara said that he also told officials to send a letter to Secretary General of Parliament exploring the possibility of deducting dues from the salaries and pensions of parliamentarians who do not pay their water bills.