The Hindu 17.05.2010
Meet water needs of apartments, VARWA urges GVMC
Staff Reporter
Association wants water to be supplied under domestic category to them
VISAKHAPATNAM: Expressing concern over the water supply position to apartments, the Visakhapatnam Apartment Residents' Welfare Association (VARWA) wanted water to be supplied under domestic category to them instead of the current semi-bulk category. Besides, the steep increase in deposit rates for tap connections made it difficult to afford it as Rs.1 lakh to Rs.2 lakhs had to be paid.
At its meeting on the water problem in apartments on Sunday, VARWA general secretary A.V. Ramana Rao pointed out that independent houses getting 1 kl of water a day were paying Rs.160 a month.
Apartments with 2" size had to cough up Rs.2,110 for 150 kl, much more compared to individual category. “We are prepared to pay if the quantity of water is proportionate to the billing,” says Mr. Ramana Rao. It's estimated that an apartment complex with 20 units requires at 12 kl a day but not even half of it is being supplied by GVMC. Mr. Ramana Rao said irrespective of the number of units the water provided remained the same.
VARWA demanded that GVMC should own responsibility for supplying adequate water to apartments treating them as independent houses. Besides the increased water tariff and deposits should be rolled back.
Addressing the meeting, CPI(M) district secretariat member B. Ganga Rao said the GVMC had failed to get its act together on water supply even midway through the summer.
Even 40 per cent of the 356 new bores were not sunk and even for those drilled heads were not fixed. He alleged that tankers supply was not being given to apartments who were forced to buy the same from private suppliers. Those taking private tankers were being given priority, including units making soft drinks.
The alternate day supply as well as timings was quite erratic. Mr. Ganga Rao said the municipal officials talking about implementation of the WALTA Act should take action against those trading in water by digging big bore wells. VARWA President Ch.L.N. Sastry spoke.
