Chandigarh MC proposes 10% sewerage cess hike

Residents will have to shell out more for paying their water bills with the MC proposing a hike in the sewerage cess from the current 20% to 30%. Also, people living outside the lal dora in 24 villages of the city are likely to get some reprieve, as the civic body has come up with a proposal to provide water connections to them.

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Both proposals will be tabled for discussion and approval in the General House meeting of scheduled for February 17.

At present, the 20% sewerage cess fetches the MC approximately Rs 12-13 crore monthly. If approved, the proposed hike is expected to add Rs 6 crore more to the MC kitty monthly, easing the financial crunch.

According to the agenda, the sewerage cess is being charged as per the notification issued by the Chandigarh Administration on July 24, 2023. The cess was initially reduced from 30% to 25% and then to 20% in the 2024 financial year. However, due to financial constraints, the MC is now proposing to restore the cess to 30% on all residential, commercial, institutional and hotel properties. Once approved by the General House, the proposal will be sent to the Administration for an amendment to the Chandigarh Water Supply Bye-Laws, 2011.

The sewerage cess has been a contentious issue in Chandigarh. It was first imposed at 30% in June 2019 but faced backlash from residents over “inflated” water bills. In March 2023, the General House reduced the cess to 10%, citing public concerns. Subsequently, in July 2023, then UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit revised the cess to 25% for the remaining fiscal year and further reduced it to 20% for 2024-25.

In the supplementary agenda for the coming General House meeting, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla has proposed water connections to households in 24 villages.

The Mayor has urged the UT Administration to take immediate action on the pressing issues faced by the residents and farmers.

The Mayor requested the urgent need for providing regular water connections for residents living outside the lal dora in 24 villages. She had earlier taken up this issue in the recently held UT Advisory Council meeting held under the chairmanship of the UT Administrator.

“These residents are currently dependent on expensive water tankers, despite having been provided with electricity connections,” she said, emphasising that water is a basic necessity. If needed, necessary amendments to the Water Bye-Laws be made to facilitate legal water connections, she added.

She also urged the Administration to regularise the structures situated outside the lal dora limits. Keeping in view the long-standing demand of villagers, immediate action be taken in this regard, she added.

She reaffirmed the MC’s commitment The Congress and their senior leaders have now become suddenly politically active on this issue after realising that this agenda will be taken up in the next General House meeting, she said.

Why no such agenda of critical importance was ever introduced and endorsed by the Congress in last year when the mayor of their alliance partner AAP was heading the MC, said Babla.

Cash-strapped MC to get some relief

At present, the 20% sewerage cess fetches the MC approximately Rs 12-13 crore monthly. If approved, the proposed 10% hike is expected to add about Rs 6 crore more to the MC kitty monthly, easing the financial crunch.