Munciple Corporation President P D Ponnappa and Munciple Commissioner K Shrikanth Rao who visited Kootuhole on Wednesday said that the water was being supplied to the public on alternative day since March as water had started drying up in Kootuhole. “In spite of the water parching up in Roshanara and Pampinakere, the public were provided with proper pipeline water using a long process where the water was initially supplied to wells using tankers. This whole procedure cost around Rs 14 lakhs,” he said.
He added that the amount obtained by the Corporation from water tax is nowhere in comparison to the expenditure. “The Corporation collects Rs 45 from each house, every month as the water bill, which adds up to Rs 540 a year. Whereas the Corporation spends almost Rs 1 crore annually for supplying water to its citizens, which in fact consists of a high electric bill of Rs 50 lakhs. Yet the corporation has no plans to increase the water tax as of now,” he clarified.
Stating further, he added that only 46 per cent to 48 per cent was collected as the water bill earlier which has been increased to 71 per cent now, and the Corporation has planned to maintain the same amount in future. “During the electricity crisis, the condition is more miserable as the water supply requires the back up of generator. It requires 60 liters of diesel every hour ending up in a huge expense of Rs 25,000 per day,” he said. Council Works Committee President T S Prakash was present.