Chandigarh Municipal Corporation likely to withdraw water tariff hike

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 10

City residents are likely to get some relief as the water tariff hike, which is presently on hold till March this year, is likely to be permanently withdrawn.

New Mayor Sarabjit Kaur, who took charge today, told Chandigarh Tribune, “In view of the current Covid situation and to provide relief to residents, we will bring an agenda to withdraw the water tariff hike decision at an MC House meeting this month.”

Mayorspeak

In view of the current Covid situation and to provide relief to residents, we will bring an agenda to withdraw the water tariff hike decision at an MC House meeting this month. Sarabjit Kaur, Mayor

The Mayor today met the UT Adviser and the Finance Secretary regarding various MC issues, including the water tariff. “I requested Adviser Dharam Pal ji to reduce the water rates after March as well. He asked us to get an agenda approved in the House. We will do that,” she said. If the MC approves it, the matter will go to the UT Administration for final approval.

In September 2020, after House approval, the UT Administration had notified an increase in the water tariff between 50 per cent and 200 per cent, depending upon the category of user and the water consumption level.

However, after facing criticism from the public and the Opposition, the MC General House had later passed a resolution in October 2020 with a request to the Administration to withdraw the notification and levy the existing charges till the pandemic was over.

Following this, the UT Administration had decided to hold back the hike in the water tariff till March this year, citing the pandemic. However, the sewerage cess, which was raised to 30 per cent of the total bill, was not reduced though the House had approved its reduction.

The civic body collects about Rs90 crore per annum as water charges, but spends about Rs225 crore on maintaining water supply to nearly 1.8 lakh consumers. With a hike in the water tariff, the MC was expecting to earn Rs60 crore.

“We also requested the Adviser to transfer the Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA) to the MC so that its revenue can be used to fill the gap in the water expenditure,” the Mayor said. She also sought the support of the Administration in improving the swachhta rankings.

Hike was notified in Sept ’20

In September 2020, after House approval, the UT Administration had notified an increase in the water tariff between 50 per cent and 200 per cent, depending upon the category of user and the water consumption level.