KWA to submit revised proposal on tariff hike

Minister for Water Resources P. J. Joseph said on Tuesday that the government had asked the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to submit a revised proposal on increasing water tariffs.

The Minister told the media here that the KWA had earlier submitted a proposal on tariff revision. The existing tariffs were fixed years ago and needed revision in view of current costs.

Mr. Joseph said that the review petition on the Supreme Court judgment on the Mullaperiyar case would be submitted by this month end. Legal consultations were on for filing the review.

He said that steps were afoot to tap the State’s share of waters as per the Cauvery tribunal award. Tenders had already been awarded for building a dam across the Pambar. Steps were also being taken to set up regulators and check-dams along the Bhavani and the Kabani rivers. Acquisition of large areas for projects on the Kabani basin was difficult. As per the award, Kerala’s share on the Cauvery water was 30 tmc a year (Kabani: 21 tmc, Bhavani: 6 tmc and Pambar: 3 tmc).

He said that as many as 154 drinking water schemes would be commissioned in the next two years under the Mission 676 programme. Besides, construction of 326 check-dams would be completed. The new drinking water projects would make piped water supply available to 83 lakh more people. With that, the percentage of population covered by drinking water supply schemes would go up from 30 to 60.

The government would also be undertaking a project in 100 panchayats to ensure recharge of wells. A subsidy of Rs.5,000 per well would be provided under the project. The Mazha Samrudhi scheme would be on the lines of the Mazhappolima scheme successfully implemented in Thrissur district during the past three years. There were about 40 lakh usable wells in the State.

He said that the government had adopted a policy on purchase of water pipes by the Kerala Water Authority with a view to limiting pipe bursts. Asbestos cement pipes would not be purchased in future. The KWA would organise adalats from this year to redress complaints.