Water in Delhi to cost Rs. 28 extra per month
What's the story
The Delhi government has hiked water and sewer charges for the first time in three years.
The first 20,000L per month will continue being free. Post that, rates will go up by 20%, translating to a hike of Rs. 28 per month or 0.85 paisa per day, announced Delhi Jal Board (DJB) Vice-Chairman Dinesh Mohaniya.
The new rates would be effective from February'18.
Current
How much does water in Delhi cost now?
At current rates, up to 20,000L of water per month is free. Those using 20,000-30,000L have to pay a service charge of Rs. 219 and a volumetric charge of roughly Rs. 22 per 1,000L.
Beyond 30,000L, the service charge is Rs. 293 and Rs. 36 per 1,000L in volumetric charge.
Arvind Kejriwal had promised free water up to 20,000L if AAP came to power.
Twitter Post
Kejriwal's media adviser tweets details
NO change in water tariff in Delhi for households using upto 20,000 litres per month for third consecutive year.
— Nagendar Sharma (@sharmanagendar) December 26, 2017
Above 20,000 litres, a 20% combined hike on water & sewer charges approved in Delhi Jal Board meeting
Cost
DJB cites major revenue loss behind the hike
In February'16, Kejriwal said on the AAP government's one-year anniversary that despite the subsidies, the DJB had a surplus of over Rs. 176cr.
However, according to reports, the Jal Board has approved the latest hike citing major losses in revenue.
Apparently it suffered losses of Rs. 516cr in 2016-17. In the previous fiscal, it claims to have lost Rs. 209cr.
Do you know?
Kejriwal took over water ministry three months ago
Since 2009, water tariff in Delhi has undergone an automatic 10% hike every year. In 2015, days after coming to power, the AAP government continued the practice. But there was no hike in 2016. Kejriwal had taken over the water ministry portfolio three months ago.