Delegation gets assurance from CM over water tariff issue

A delegation of Congress leaders from Solan and Palampur who met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu at Shimla recently for slashing the revised water tariff have received a positive assurance of re-looking at the issue.

Following this assurance, the councillors of Solan Municipal Corporation have heaved a sigh of relief as the revised water tariff had imposed a fourfold increase on the water dues.

MLA Palampur Ashish Butail, DR Shandil, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Mayor Solan Municipal Corporation Usha Sharma, former Mayor Punam Grover and councillors Rajiv Kaura and Abhay Sharma from Solan met the Chief Minister and apprised him how the revised rate of Rs 100 per kilo litre notified by the Jal Shakti Department (JSD) in September 2024 would put a huge monetary strain on the Solan residents.

“As against the existing rate of Rs 27.71 per kilo litre the enhanced rate of Rs 100 per kilo litre has burdened the civic body with a monthly levy of crores. We have decided not to impose this enhanced rate on the public who will continue to get billed on old rates. We have been assured by the Chief Minister and the issue of revised water tariff would be put up before the Cabinet for further action,” informed Usha Sharma.

Additional Chief Secretary, JSD Onkar Sharma confirmed that since the issue of revised water tariff was a Cabinet decision, it would be put up once again before the Cabinet for further action.

Since the Opposition BJP was preparing to protest over the issue of revised water tariff, the assurance given by the Chief Minister has come as a major relief to the Congress councillors in Solan.