Chandigarh MC may levy surcharge on water supplied to Panchkula, Chandimandir

Facing financial crisis, the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is considering to levy surcharge on water supplied to the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), Panchkula, and the Military Engineer Services (MES), Chandimandir.

Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla said the issue was discussed during a meeting of the House held on June 3. Many councillors were of the view that surcharge should be levied on the water given to HUDA and Chandimandir. She said the members of the House passed a resolution unanimously for levying the surcharge. However, the quantum of surcharge and the basis on which it would be levied were yet to be decided, she added.

Babla said some councillors even favoured stopping the water supply. However, she was of the view that the supply could not be stopped for Chandimandir though levying the surcharge might be considered. All councillors agreed to it, she added.

At present, Chandigarh is getting 89 million gallons a day (MGD) water from the Kajauli Water Works against a demand of 120 MGD. Out of it, 16 MGD is being diverted to Chandimandir and Panchkula. The remaining shortage of water in the UT is met through tube wells.

The councillors are of the view that the MC spent money on acquiring land for the Kajauli Water Works, whereas it does not get anything in return from Panchkula and Chandimandir for the water supplied to them. They said giving free water to them was not justified when the civic body was in a dire need of money.

Councillor Saurabh Joshi said the levying of surcharge would help the MC overcome the financial crisis.

Besides Panchkula and Chandimandir, SAS Mohali is also getting water from the Kajauli Water Works under an agreement reached among the states in the 1980s. However, Chandigarh was given the responsibility of carrying out the project.

Kajauli Water Works is situated on Bhakra canal from where water reaches Chandigarh. In summer, the city faces an acute water crisis. The residents living on upper floors of group housing societies in southern sectors or rehabilitation colonies are affected the most as they get irregular supply.