AAP government hikes water tariff by 10 per cent

New Delhi:The AAP government in Delhi on Thursday hiked the water tariff by 10 per cent about a month after it announced a free-water scheme for people in the national capital.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisoida, who chaired the 121st Board Meeting of Delhi Jal Board, gave his nod to the proposal for the tariff hike with immediate effect even as BJP and Congress slammed the government's decision, saying it was a "betrayal of the people".

According to a senior government official, the increase in tariff will be effective for households which consume more than 20,000 litres of water per month. However, people consuming under 20,000 litres will not be affected by the hike.

It was also decided to regularise all unauthorised water connections by taking a fee of Rs 3,310, which was earlier Rs 20,000, with the step aimed at encouraging consumers to go for authorised connections. "This will help DJB enforce better water accounting as well as reduce non-revenue water," said a senior government official.

Sources also said that the government will purchase 250 water tankers so that people living in areas lacking water pipelines may get water through tankers.

The government also announced approval of 100 per cent rebate in the Late Payment Surcharge amount for domestic water consumers, who need to clear their water bills by March 31.

On February 25, AAP government had announced a 50 per cent subsidy on monthly power consumption of up to 400 units and 20,000 litres of free water per month to all households.

Slamming the Arvind Kejriwal-led government and condemning the hike decision, Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said that the ruling party is playing with the "sentiments of the people".

"The government's decision to increase water tariff by 10 per cent is a stab on peoples' back. No proposal has come for laying new water supply lines in any area but the Jal Board has come up with a proposal to buy 250 new tankers," he said.

Congress also came down heavily on the AAP government with DPCC chief Ajay Maken saying that, "Government's decision to hike the water tariff is a betrayal of the people. The move will put additional burden on the common man. AAP is going back on all its promises, as the 10 per cent hike in the water tariff will affect lakhs of people in Delhi and would be beyond the paying capacity of the poor people."