Kullu residents outraged over high water bills

Residents of Kullu are worried over high water bills issued to them in July, reflecting a steep tariff hike applied retrospectively from September 2024. The move has sparked widespread resentment, as many households have got unexpectedly high water bills.

Under the revised slab-based structure, per-kilo litre rates have risen sharply for higher consumption bands and an additional sewerage surcharge of flat 30 per cent on usage has been imposed. Officials claim that the changes have been made to conserve water and stop wastage, but for many families the exorbitant bills are shocking.

Consumers have received consolidated bills for several months at revised rates from September 2024. This has disproportionately impacted joint families and landlords managing multiple households on a single meter. A local resident says that his monthly water bill has risen from Rs 1,295 to Rs 13,678. “We pay for water, but how can we plan our household budget when bills are revised retrospectively?” he asks.

Another consumer, Gaurav, criticises the tiered structure for billing and says that modest rates for lower water usage levels rise dramatically for larger families. Residents have staged street protests and delegations have approached district offices demanding relief. Citizens are urging the state government to either revoke the retrospective component or apply the old rates until the date the bills are actually issued— effectively maintaining pre-September 2024 pricing through July. Resident groups argue that administrative delays in billing cannot justify the imposition of higher rates with retrospective effect without a prior notice.

Economists and consumer rights advocates caution that while the Jal Shakti Department may have legitimate goals such as cost recovery and uniform tariff revision but sudden retrospective hike in water bills erode public trust and risk pushing vulnerable households into financial distress. They recommend phased implementation, exemptions or caps for domestic users and transparent communication rather than surprise lumpsum bills.

However, the political response has been measured. During a visit to the Kullu Dasehra festival, Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri had acknowledged public distress and said that the government was considering relief measures, including potential waivers. He had also announced new investments in the drinking water infrastructure in the district. Yet for many residents, the promise of future relief offers little comfort amid immediate financial strain. “A promise in the future can’t pay this month’s skyrocketed bill,” one protester adds.

As officials deliberate the issue, Kullu residents are united in demanding that any tariff increase must be fair, predictable and practically enforceable. Until then, they insist the old rates should apply to bills covering periods before the consumers are properly informed. How the state balances its revenue goals with social equity in the coming days will determine whether tensions ease or protests intensify.