TRICHY: The move of the
Trichy municipal corporation to increase water charges and install
meters for calculating the individual water consumption met with stiff
opposition as the opposition councillors termed it unfair as a
long-pending Rs 221.42 crore water project is yet to come to fruitionto
comfort the people. As the ruling AIADMK councillors too were not ready
to support the move, the corporation cancelled the agenda.

The
Trichy corporation tabled the resolution in the municipal council
meeting on Wednesday, seeking nod to increase the monthly charges and
deposit for domestic and industrial water supply for drinking water for
residences non-drinking water purpose and for factories from April 1,
2013. The proposal set tariffs of for the year 2013-14 Rs 200/pm and Rs
5,000 as usage charges and deposit respectively for domestic use. It was
also proposed to charge Rs 600/pm and Rs 10,000 as deposit for
non-drinking water projects and Rs 1,000/pm user fees and Rs 10,000
deposit for factories.

As the civic body’s move entailed steep
increase for consumers, both the ruling party councillors and the
opposition found it hard to support the proposal. For instance, the
current charges are Rs 100 and Rs 3,000 for domestic users. were hiked
to Rs 200 and Rs 5000 respectively.

In fact, it was independent
councillor M Venkatraj who raised the first voice against the new water
tariff, saying a hike would ignite public anger when the water quality
is poor and water scarcity remains a persistent problem in the city. At
this juncture, the increase of water charges would provoke the public
into agitation. So, the corporation should cancel the proposal.

Soon, the DMK councillors led by its floor leader M Anbazhagan seconded
the argument and criticised the corporation for not implementing the
much-needed Rs 221.42 crore water project that was launched in 2007
during the DMK regime. to meet the growing demand of the water in the
corporation wards.

The project envisaged drawing water from
three wells in Kollidam river and dovetailing it with the existing water
scheme to augment supply to Trichy city. Had the project materialised
the city residents would have received 135 litres per capita against the
current availability of 90 litres per head. Moreover, the scheme
included the construction of 37 overhead water tanks. With the new
scheme, the corporation assured that they could supply 135 litres per
capita water against the present water supply of 90 litres per capita.

As the ambitious project is yet to be implemented, many parts of the
Trichy corporation regularly face water scarcity. “The corporation
assured to implement the scheme in September last year and it was later
postponed to December. Now, the corporation says it will be completed in
March this year. While the corporation fails to put the project into
operation on time, it is unfair to increase the water charges tariff,”
said Anbazhagan.

The corporation commissioner V P Thandapani
replied that the project was stalled as the corporation was running
short of funds. The proposed water tarrif hike was aimed at boosting the
reserves of the civic body, said Thandapani.

the project
commenced with Rs 66.43 crore subsidies from Japan Bank International
Cooperation (JPIC), Rs 111.25 crore loans from Tamil Nadu Urban
Development Fund Corporation (TNUDFC) and Rs 43.74 crore contribution
from Trichy Corporation. But for their contribution and to repay the
loans to TNUDFC. So, the corporation decided to boost the funds
positions by increasing the water tariff.

The civic body
proposal seeking approval to install meters to assess water consumption
was also shot down by the irate councillors.

But the DMK councillor stood firm on their stand to cancel the two agendas until the corporation implements
the water project in Trichy Corporation. And, the AIADMK councillors
also did not support the two agendas. Hence, the corporation
administration abandoned both the move to increase water tariff and
install water consumption calculating meters.