The Hindu 28.03.2013
Revision of water charges unlikely
The proposal is said to have been kept on the back burner.
The water charges revision is unlikely to happen if the developments in Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) are any indication. The proposal is said to have been kept on the back burner due to difference of opinion among higher ups.
The budget has to be presented before March 28, however, the revision proposal is unlikely to find place in it as the district Collector, who is special officer of the corporation, is not in favour of it. The VMC, earlier, had plans to revise the water charges from April 1 onwards.
The VMC officials are said to have planned to take approval from theCollector before introducing it in the budget. The Special Officer, sources say, evinced interest in the proposal to revise the charges in view of poor finances of the corporation, but, as the things stand now, the water charges revision will not see the light of the day. As the news broke out, Opposition parties vehemently opposed any upward revision. The officials are said to have been pressured by the elected representatives to shelve the proposals. The elected representatives also fear that the revision would invite wrath of public during an election year.
The revision in water charges will bring additional revenue of Rs.11 crore. At present, the corporation is running the show with a deficit budget of Rs.5 crore every month.
The VMC has put forth the proposals before the government seeking its direction on hike in water tariff. The corporation officials cite the gross mismatch between expenditure and recoveries on supply of safe drinking water.
The corporation is presently spending about Rs.20.50 crore on safe drinking water supply to the public. However, it was recovering only 40 per cent of the expenditure involved in the water supply.
The water charges are likely to be Rs.140 from existing Rs.80 per household. In 2003 the VMC increased the tariff from Rs.50 to Rs.100 per HSC. Later, it was brought down to Rs.80 in 2005.
