DJB hikes water tariff by 20% for usage above 20k ltr

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, December 26

The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) today approved a combined 20 per cent hike in water and sewer charges in the national Capital for consumption above 20,000 litre per month.

However, households consuming up to 20,000 litre a month will continue to get the benefit in line with the subsidy scheme of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

The new rates will be applicable from February 1, 2018. It will effectively lead to a rise of Rs 28 in the monthly bill for consumers consuming over 20,000 litre a month, said DJB vice-chairperson Dinesh Mohaniya, who is the AAP MLA from Sangam Vihar.

“No change in water tariff in Delhi for households using up to 20,000 litre per month for third consecutive year. Above 20,000 litre, a 20 per cent combined hike on water and sewer charges approved in the DJB meeting,” Delhi Government spokesperson Nagendar Sharma tweeted.

In 2015 the AAP government had raised water tariff by 10 per cent for domestic consumers in line with an annual automatic 10 per cent rate hike mechanism started by the Sheila Dikshit government in 2009. But in 2016, the government decided to discontinue the system of auto increase of 10 per cent.

Today’s move came three months after Kejriwal took over the ministerial portfolio of water after the removal of AAP rebel Kapil Mishra.

The tariff for water for households using above 20,000 litre per month was earlier Rs 286.89, now after the increase it will be Rs 315.05, with an increase of Rs 28.16 per month.

Similarly, for consuming 23,000 of water per month earlier resulted in a billed amount of Rs 465.55 per month, it will now be Rs 514.79 per month, which happens to be an increase of Rs 49.24 per month. For consumption of 25,000 litre of water per month, the bill will reflect a monthly increase of Rs 63.28. The bill now will be Rs 599.14 which earlier used to be Rs 535.86.

Withdraw hike: demands BJP

BJP chief Manoj Tiwari today urged the LG for withdrawing the hiked water tariff. 

Tiwari said due to this hike, the residents would have to bear additional burden of Rs 500-600 crore.