Gurugram, Feb. 19 -- The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) is planning to roll out a pilot project in the city to assess the effectiveness of smart meters for water supply, officials said on Wednesday. It said the aim was to curb tampering and improve billing accuracy. According to officials, this initiative comes amid concerns that conventional mechanical meters are prone to manipulation, leading to revenue losses and inaccurate consumption records. Officials told HT that MCG is planning to launch the pilot project at Suncity Avenue in Sector 54, housing nearly 1,200 families, to evaluate the performance of smart meters before expanding to other parts of the city. Smart water meters offer real-time, remote digital monitoring, while conventional mechanical meters rely on manual readings of water flow and provide lower precision. In January, MCG officials visited Odisha for a training session on modern water management practices. Officials said the success in Odisha has influenced Gurugram's plan as MCG explores ways to strengthen its own network. The focus is to identify areas where water theft, leakage and wastage are highest, particularly in places with ageing pipelines and outdated infrastructure. Pradeep Dahiya, MCG commissioner, told HT that smart meters could play a crucial role in reducing tampering and improving transparency. "We are studying the effectiveness of smart meters. The proposal is currently in the works, and if the pilot model proves successful, we will look at implementing it across the city," he said. According to officials, a majority of households currently have conventional mechanical meters which are susceptible to tampering. Many households lack meters and pay a fixed charge based on property size, which does not reflect actual consumption. Pradeep Kumar, executive engineer, MCG, said, "Smart meters are a bit costly compared to mechanical meters, but they provide accuracy and transparency. The plan is in the works, and we will be ready for the pilot project execution in the coming days." Kusum Sharma, chairperson of the Suncity residents' welfare association (RWA), said residents are ready to support the initiative if implemented effectively. "The smart meter plan looks good on paper, provided it is executed properly. Several households in our township are paying high water bills that do not match their actual consumption. If implemented well, this can bring much-needed accuracy to the billing system," she said....