AMC told to roll back hike in water charges

AURANGABAD: Bowing to strong opposition from corporators cutting across party lines, the general body on Thursday put the annual hike on water charges on hold. Following a heated debate over the hike of 10% in water charges with effect from April 1, 2017, mayor Bapu Ghadamode directed the municipal administration to refrain from increasing it. Stressing on the water scarcity that has been plaguing the citizens across the city for the past many years, Ghadamode said, “In some localities the residents have been receiving tap water after a gap of five to six days and thus the water consumers should not be asked to pay inflated charges. Let the municipal administration improve water supply before making the hike,” he said there by allowing the consumers to pay water charges for 2017-18 as per the rates applicable in 2016-17. For the last fiscal, the water charges for residential category consumers drawing water from half inch thickness pipe was Rs 3,750 per annum but for 2017-18 the rates for the same were increased to Rs 4,125 per annum. The charges vary according to the thickness of pipes and category. Although, this method of deciding on the charges is pretty old, the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation has no other option as there are no water meters installed at the door steps of the consumers in the city. However, the municipal administration, which was very keen on inflating the charges, said it would send the proposal to the state government. “As per the directions of the general body, we will put the hike on hold and seek approval of the state government,” said municipal commissioner Om Prakash Bakoria. It is important to note that the municipal body along with the private company had agreed to make 10% hike in water charges every year. But opposing the hike, MIM corporator Samina Shaikh said that the municipal body has no right to increase water charges in the current scenario. “We have already scraped the PPP model water project and hence the citizens should not be over burdened, especially when the municipal body is unable to supply water as per the demand,” he said. Corporator Raju Shinde also said that considering the water scarcity is aggravating with each passing day, there is no scope for hike in water charges. “The residents pay water charges for the entire year but receive water only three to four days in a week. In such a case how can one ask for increased charges,” he said. However, Bakoria said that the municipal body is drawing water from a reservoir located at a distance of about 45 km, which inflates the cost of water. “We are spending about 11 paise per litre but offering it a subsidised rate of 7 paise per litre,” he said.