BJP, Cong slam water tariff hike

A 10 per cent hike in water charges announced by the Arvind Kejriwal government on Thursday raised a political storm with both the BJP and Congress slamming the government for pursuing anti-people policies.

Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken said the AAP, which had promised free water and 50 per cent reduction in power tariff in its election manifesto, was going back on all its promises.
“The hike in the water tariff will affect lakhs of people. The new rates would be beyond the paying capacity of the poor,” he said.

Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said the tariff hike is a confirmation of BJP’s repeated stand that the AAP government is just playing with people’s sentiments ever since it came to power.

“The Kejriwal government last week spoke of 20,000 litre free water to a limited section of billed consumers selling the dream of free water. And its today’s proposal to raise water tariff by 10 per cent is a stab on people’s back,” he said.

Upadhyay said Delhi Jal Board recently announced that people who pay pending water bills will be given relief from late payment surcharge.

“This is a clear U-turn on the earlier 49-day Kejriwal government’s decision to allow relief from late payment surcharge and 25 per cent rebate on actual water,” he said.

The Congress has threatened a protest against the hike.

Maken said party would protest against anti-people decisions by the AAP government to safeguard the interest of the people.

He said it was indeed surprising that the Kejriwal government was going back on all its tall election promises made to mislead the voters.

Maken said the government has betrayed the trust of Delhiites, who believed the false promises made by the AAP before the Assembly elections.