Tambaram residents protest water charge hike

Chennai: Tambaram corporation tripled monthly water charges and connection deposits despite supplying water only twice a week. This has triggered widespread anger among residents' welfare associations. People accused officials of imposing the steep hike without public consultation or notice. Tambaram, which requires around 130mld (million litres a day) of water for its 10 lakh residents, now gets only 85-90 million litres, twice a week. According to a govt order issued in April, the monthly charges were revised from 50.50 to 150.50, and the annual charge from 606 to 1,806. The water connection deposit for houses up to 600sqft was increased from 5,000 to 7,500, while buildings with larger area were charged 12,000.Residents' welfare associations said the revision should have been done in consultation with the people. Residents in Chromepet and nearby areas said they were surprised to receive revised bills despite earlier promises from the corporation that the hike would be kept on hold after they raised objections last month. The associations had earlier submitted petitions to the corporation stating that there was no transparency in implementing revised charges.Despite officials' promises that the govt order would be withdrawn and not revising the charges, residents of several areas continue to be charged exorbitantly, residents alleged. Sethu Madhavan, senior activist and resident of Chromepet, said residents met Tambaram corporation commissioner S Balachander on Monday regarding the revised water charges and variable deposit rates imposed on existing consumers."He told us that the norms were passed by the council and the govt order was issued on Sept 24, 2026," Madhavan said. "We informed him that the order had not reached residents within the corporation limits. Usually stakeholders are informed at least three months in advance, and suggestions are sought. No such process was followed. Increasing taxes without a proper reason is unfair to residents," he said.Responding to the concerns, commissioner Balachander said the corporation had stopped collecting revised water charges after residents raised objections. "Only in a few areas under the Tambaram corporation's limits does the issue persist. Residents can approach the corporation and pay the usual bill," Balachander said.