MC hikes water testing charges by 300% in city

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 11

If dirty water is being supplied to you and want it get tested by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, get ready to pay thrice the current charges.

As per the public notice issued by the civic body, charges for the chemical testing of water has been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 per sample.

For chemical and bacteriological testing, residents will have to pay Rs 3,000 per sample. Earlier, it used to cost just Rs 1,000. Over and above this, the MC has increased charges for the collection of water samples from Rs 200 to Rs 300. These rates will be applicable on all kind of consumers.

Notably, water testing is mandatory for all institutions that are supplied water through tubewells.

RK Garg, president of the Second Innings Association, said the step would discourage people from getting the water supplied to them tested.

Garg said the decision would benefit private firms involved in the testing of drinking water. He demanded that the increase be withdrawn for households and the increase in charges for other category of consumers should be rationalised.