Water bill blues: Protests erupt in Manali over new tariffs

Accusing the Congress-led state government of imposing an unjust financial burden on the public, BJP state vice-president and former minister Govind Singh Thakur on Tuesday led a spirited protest on Mall Road, Manali, against the recent hike in water tariffs implemented by the Jal Shakti Department.

Flanked by dozens of residents and local BJP leaders, Thakur marched to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office, where he submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister and the Jal Shakti Minister, demanding immediate relief for water consumers reeling under inflated bills.

The protesters alleged that the recently issued bills — consolidating charges for three months into a single invoice — were exorbitant and unaffordable for ordinary citizens. They called for a return to monthly billing and demanded that the tiered slab system be scrapped in favour of a uniform per-unit rate to ensure transparency and fairness in water charges.

Thakur launched a scathing attack on the Congress government, accusing it of breaking pre-election promises and pursuing revenue collection at the cost of already burdened households. “Instead of providing relief, the government has increased water charges by five to seven times. This is nothing but an anti-people, anti-poor policy,” he said.

According to Thakur, the steep rate hike has hit domestic consumers, small shopkeepers, hoteliers, and social organisations the hardest — especially amid rising inflation and reduced economic activity in the hill regions. In several towns, residents have received water bills amounting to tens of thousands or even lakhs of rupees, sparking widespread outrage.

In Manali, the protest saw residents burning copies of their water bills in public and chanting slogans demanding justice and accountability. Local women’s groups also participated in large numbers, highlighting how the tariff hikes have intensified financial strain on families already managing tight household budgets.

The demonstrators insisted that the government immediately roll back the rate hike, reinstate a slab-free pricing model and restore monthly billing cycles to help families manage their expenses more effectively.

Warning of further agitation, Thakur said the BJP would not let the issue rest. “If the government fails to withdraw this anti-people notification, we will launch a statewide movement. The BJP will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people on the streets until justice is delivered,” he declared.