KOLKATA: The New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) has decided to install water meters in Rajarhat New Town before ensuring the drinking water supply. Talk of putting the cart before the horse. It has also decided to introduce day and night parking fees in the township.

NKDA officials say they are setting up water meters in all commercial, residential and institutional buildings to check how much water is being consumed and how much wasted. "The meters will be installed to check the flow of water. It will take some time for the process to be completed," said Hidco chairman-cum-managing director Debashis Sen. The authority will maintain and operate the water meters.

This will help them calculate how much water the township will need. NKDA is supplying underground water to residential and commercial complexes now and is yet to start a piped supply system. A 120-million-gallon-per-day water treatment plant is coming up in Rajarhat which will take water from the Ganga, treat it and supply it to the entire township through 70-inch-wide pipelines. Neighbouring Salt Lake and areas of South Dum Dum municipality will also get water from this treatment plant.

The officials want to streamline the parking of vehicles in New Town. They have observed that a large number of vehicles enter the township daily and are parked haphazardly on the roadsides all day. This often inconveniences residents. NKDA has decided to introduce parking fees in New Town, which will not only bring order to the parking system but also generate revenue. The car parking zones will be earmarked by Hidco and NKDA. All vehicles will have to pay the fee.

There will be different rates for day and night parking. During the day, it's Rs 5 per hour for two-wheelers, Rs 10 for cars and vans and Rs 20 for mini-buses, buses and trucks. The monthly day parking fees for two-wheelers will be Rs 600, for cars and vans Rs 1,200 and for heavier vehicles Rs 1,500.

Night parking rates (10pm to 7am) will be higher. - Rs 10 per hour for two-wheelers, Rs 30 for cars and vans and Rs 60 for mini-buses, buses and trucks. The monthly rate will be Rs 1,000 for two-wheelers, Rs 600 for cars and vans and Rs 1,200 for heavier vehicles.