The Hindu 22.03.2013
Left parties’ signature campaign against water meters
The Left parties alleged that the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) was treating the water supply as a money spinner.
The
CPI and CPI(M) conducted a signature campaign against water meters and
tariff hike near NTR circle here on Thursday. On the occasion, CPI city
secretary Donepudi Sankar and CPI (M) city secretary Ch. Babu Rao
pointed that the Corporation was under special officer rule for the last
two and half years. Though elections have to be conducted within six
months after the expiry of the council term, the government was dilly
dallying the matter. The Corporation under the special rule was taking
the decisions which were burden on the people. The decision to hike
water charges was one of the major anti-people decisions, they felt.
The
people were already overburdened with heavy taxes and steep rise in
prices of essential commodities. The Corporation, at this juncture, was
poised to hike the water tariff much to the agony of the people. The
State government has wicked plans to introduce water meters and loot the
people at its will. The government has already hiked the power charges
and LPG gas charges, they pointed out.
It was
unfortunate that the VMC was planning to introduce a single tariff of
Rs. 175 to every category. Lakhs of poor would suffer if the Rs. 50
category was withdrawn. The Corporation instead of augmenting the water
supply for ensuing summer, has chalked out plans to increase the tariff.
