Chandigarh mulls asking MC to review resolution on water rate revision

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 21

The wait to get relief from the recently hiked water tariff is likely to get longer in the city, with the UT Administration mulling over sending back a resolution passed by the Municipal Corporation (MC) over revision of rates to the civic body for reconsideration.

Facing criticism from residents over three-fold increase in the water tariff after the UT Administration issued a notification in this regard on September 11 last year, the BJP-ruled MC had brought an agenda in the House to slash the rates as the civic body elections are slated to be held in November-December this year. The agenda was approved by the House on October 29. It was then sent to the Administration for the final approval.

The resolution passed in the House asked for continuation of the rates effective before the new rates were notified by the Administration on September 11. However, till a new notification is issued by the UT Administration to this effect, the rates increased in September would remain in force.

A senior official of the UT Administration said the rates were last revised in 2011 and they were going to send the resolution back to the civic body for reconsideration.

According to the notification issued by the Administration, the increase in water rates is between 50 per cent and 200 per cent depending upon the category of user and the consumption level. In addition to the tariff, water cess of Rs20 per month per connection is charged for maintenance of parks and green belts.

The rates were last revised in 2011. The proposal for further hike was first mooted in 2014. Another attempt was made in 2018, but the MC House had rejected it.

Hitesh Puri of the Chandigarh Residents’ Association Welfare Federation said there was a huge resentment among residents over the increase in the water rates. 

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