Delhi Jal Board hikes water tariff by 20%

Water will be costlier in the national capital from February with the Delhi Jal Board on Tuesday approving a combined 20% hike in water and sewer charges for consumption above 20,000 litres a month.

Households consuming up to 20,000 litres a month will continue to get water free of cost as part of the state government's subsidy scheme. This is the second tariff hike by the Arvind Kejriwal government after coming to power in 2015.

The government had hiked water tariff by 10% for consumers falling in the same category. Kejriwal took over the water portfolio three months ago after the removal of rebel AAP leader Kapil Mishra.

The Congress government led by Sheila Dikshit had kept an annual automatic 10% rate hike mechanism but in 2016, the Kejriwal government decided against following the auto mechanism while putting another hike on hold.

"No change in water tariff in Delhi for households using up to 20,000 litres per month for the  third consecutive year. Above 20,000 litres, a 20% combined hike on water and sewer charges approved in the Delhi Jal Board meeting," Delhi government spokesperson Nagendar Sharma tweeted.

According to DJB vice chairman and AAP MLA Dinesh Mohaniya, this will effectively lead to a rise of Rs 28 per month for consumers crossing the 20,000 litres limit.

Domestic users consuming between 20,000 litres and 30,000 litres per month will have to pay Rs 219.62 as service charge, while the volumetric charge is Rs 21.97 per 1,000 litres.

Customers who use over 30,000 litres a month pay Rs 292.82 in service charge and Rs 36.61 per 1,000 litres in volumetric charge.