In what could be a reprieve for water users, the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) council on Friday resolved to slash both water tariff and UGD cess, pending approval from the government.
Effective from July 01, the water tariff will be a minimum of Rs 125 , while the UGD charge will be 30 per cent that of water cess.
Announcing this at the council meeting, Mayor M C Rajeshwari said, the revised tariff will be applicable only for domestic users, while for non- domestic and commercial and industrial purposes it remains unchanged at minimum of Rs 140 and Rs 280 respectively.
The new rates are 1.5 per cent less than what the MCC had decided to bring into effect from May 01, 2012.
It had been decided then to revise the tariff, fixing minimum charges at Rs 229 only to stir a hornet’s nest.
Following protests from every quarters of the society, the mayor had instructed the authorities concerned to collect the cess according to the existing rate, that of 2006, when the minimum rate was Rs 120. The revised rate of Rs 125 is double than that of the year 2006.
Earlier, the mayor had announced to revise the tariff fixing the minimum charges at Rs 135 and UGD cess to 30 pc, only to invite the wrath of her party colleague Ayub Khan.
Ayub Khan, also a former mayor argued that the cess is not people friendly.
Ruckus in council
Almost all the corporators, especially of BJP contended the claim of Ayub Khan, creating ruckus for sometime.
Despite frequent appeals made by another former mayor and Janata Dal (Secular) corporator H N Srikantaiah to seek opinions of the corporators on the proposed tariff, Ayub Khan refused to buy it. Instead, he stuck to his words and was seen convincing other corporators too, to support his stance.
Eventually, the mayor in due consultation with MCC commissioner M R Ravi made changes, from Rs 135 to Rs 125 and announced the decision.
When the meeting convened in the day, it was Congress corporator P Devaraj who raised the issue urging the mayor to come out with a decision.
Opposition leader in the council BJP’s M V Ramprasad, T Girish Prasad and Shivakumar, R Lingappa and T Devaraj of JD(S) among others made similar appeal.
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