Water tariff dearer by 500 pc likely

Mysore City Corporation and the state government are following unscientific methods in hiking water tariff. There is no such provision under Karnataka Municipal Act and Water Supply Act to increase water tariff, said convener of Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore M Lakshman.

Addressing a press meet at Vani Vilas Water Works here on Thursday, he said, water tariff was last increased in 2006. Government has now taken a step to increase the tariff after almost six years. According to Karnataka Municipal Act and Water Supply Act, tariff can be increased at rate of 15 per cent once in three years.

“Considering span of six years, let the government increase the price at 30 per cent. But Government has hiked the tariff at rate of 500 per cent through MCC, which is an added burden for Mysoreans,” he added.

 “There is no profit for anyone by suspending Jusco from the works. How can the government take a step to increase price when there is no proper supply of water.Government has not invested money to take decisions in haste. It is the money of tax payers which is being misused,” he said.

According to guidelines of JNnURM, price can be increased only after two years of implementation of full fledged project. Even then, the central government has to be consulted. Residents of Mysore were paying Rs 60 in addition with Rs 11 of UGD up to usage of 25,000 litres of water. After 25,000 litres, water was charged at Rs two per thousand littres. As per the new order to be effective from May 1, house hold water usage, up to 8,000 litres of water would be charged at Rs 56 and  the 15 per cent UGD is increased to 40 per cent which would sum upto Rs 320.60. “It is a blatantly wrong decision taken by government,”  Lakshman  alleged.