Officials in Delhi are seeking powers allowing them to prosecute those who tap into pipes to siphon off free water.

Hijacking the utilities is rife in many Indian cities, with people splicing their own cables onto phone lines and the electricity supply in an attempt to avoid paying the bills.

Delhi is also seeing a rise in thefts from its water network, as DIY plumbers attach themselves to the mains.

The organisation which administers the city’s water supply, the Delhi Jal Board, is seeking powers to levy a fine of up to Rs1,000 (£12) – a seemingly modest limit by Western standards but a significant amount in a country where the per capita GDP is under £1,500.

Sam Bond

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