NMC proposes 5% watertariff hike across user slabs

Nagpur: Water consumers in the city could soon face higher bills as the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) proposed a 5% hike in water tariffs across all categories.The proposal, moved by the water works dept, is backed by Clause 56(B) of the Nagpur City Water Rate Assessment and Collection Bylaws, 2009, and the 2010 tariff schedule. The provision empowers the municipal commissioner to approve up to 5% tariff hike in a financial year without requiring the general body nod, with the condition that the decision be placed before the standing committee for information. Any hike beyond 5% would require general body's approval.What makes the move significant is the precedent set over the past two years. Despite having the provision to revise tariffs annually, former municipal commissioners Radhakrishnan B and Abhijeet Chaudhari chose not to implement any hike after the 2023 revision, effectively providing relief to consumers amid rising cost of living pressures. "The last tariff increase was implemented in 2023," confirmed superintending engineer Shweta Banerjee.The timing has raised concerns among citizens and activists, particularly as complaints over faulty billing, meter inaccuracies and erratic water supply remain unresolved in many areas. Critics argue that revising tariffs without addressing these systemic issues would unfairly burden consumers. At the same time, officials cite rising operational and maintenance costs, along with the civic body's strained finances, as key reasons for pushing the revision.Existing Water Tariff RatesResidential (R1)0-20 units: Rs8.15/unit21-30 units: Rs13.03/unit31-80 units: Rs17.93/unitAbove 80 units: Rs24.44/unitInstitutional (IA/IB)Rs21.17 to Rs32.59 per unit (slab-wise)Commercial (C1A/C1B/C2)Rs40.73 to Rs122.17 per unit (depending on usage)Slum connectionsMinimum monthly charges: Rs48.86 (hutments) to Rs81.45 (RCC houses)Note: Minimum monthly charges apply based on pipe size (15mm-300mm), impacting base billing irrespective of consumption