Households and commercial establishments in Puducherry will have to pay more for water with the government announcing an increase in tariff for supply of water to various categories of consumers in Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam regions. The tariff for domestic category was last increased in 1991.
According to the notification issued on February 15, the tariff for domestic categories has been increased to ₹3 per unit as against 50 paise per unit subject to a minimum of ₹270 a quarter. For above 90 units per quarter, the tariff has been increased to ₹270 plus.
The tariff for non-metered government accommodation such as Type I, II, III and LIG in Lawspet, Boomianpet, and Olandai has been increased from ₹11 to ₹ ₹50 a month. For Type IV and MIG, the tariff has been hiked to ₹75 a month as against ₹15 a month while for Type V and HIG, it has been hiked to₹100 a month as against ₹20 a month. For non-domestic commercial category, the tariff has been hiked to ₹10 a unit as against ₹6. The tariff for commercial category was last increased in 2010. The security deposit for domestic category has been increased to ₹500 from ₹250. For commercial category, it has been increased to ₹10,000 as against ₹5,000.
According to a Public Works Department official, the tariff for various categories had been increased as per the directive of the Centre due to the possibility of a drinking water crisis during summer.
