Karnataka - Belgaum   

New tariff for connections under 24X7 water supply scheme

Belgaum: The Belgaum City Corporation on Monday, unanimously adopted a resolution to implement new tariff for water connections under the 24x7 drinking water supply scheme in the city.

A decision to this effect was taken at the meeting presided over by Mayor Prashanta Budavi.

The new tariff will be effective only in the demonstration zones in 10 wards. The rates for the other 48 wards will be decided only after the scheme is implemented.

However, the new tariff will be on a par with the rates prevailing in Gulbarga City Corporation limits, where the scheme is also under different stages of implementation.

In fact, the ruling Sarva Bhashik Samvichar Vikas Vedike consisting of Kannada-Urdu and splinter group of Marathi corporators in the BCC had proposed relatively higher rates.

But, it was left with little option after the Opposition consisting of Marathi corporators insisted that the GCC model on water tariff be adopted. Senior leader of the Opposition Dhanraj Gavali, who strongly opposed the proposal, said that people were already overburdened with inflation and price rise. It was not fair on the part of the civic body to impose additional burden on them. However, the least the BCC could do was to adopt the GCC model and hope that it would be acceptable to the usershe said.

As per the new rates for different categories, the rates for domestic users will be Rs.6 a KL (kilo litre) up to the first 8 KL, Rs. 8 a KL from 8 KL to 15 KL, Rs.10 a KL from 15KL to 25 KL and Rs.12 a KL for above 25 KL usage.

For non-domestic users, it will be Rs.16 a KL for the first 15 KL, Rs.20 a KL for 15 to 25 KL and Rs. 24 a KL for above 25 KL usage.

For commercial and industrial connections, the rate will be Rs.32 a KL.

In addition to these rates, there will be fixed rates for each category of users; Rs.48 for domestic users, Rs.128 for non-domestic users and Rs.256 for 1 to 15 KL for commercial and industrial connections.

But the new rates are not acceptable to many people, particularly those belonging to economically poor sections, but they have no option but to draw water under the 24x7 scheme.

Uma Bhagawan Shinde, a resident of Raghunath Peth in Angol in Ward No.5 where the scheme has been implemented since June last, said her monthly water bill had already gone up from Rs.150 to Rs.180. An increase in tarif would only have an adverse impact on her family, she said.

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