Water to get costlier for Mumbaikars from tomorrow
From tomorrow, water is set to get costlier for Mumbaikars. According to BMC's latest notification, there'll be a 3.72% hike in water charges for both domestic and non-domestic users. The revised rates for slum-dwellers, housing societies and non-domestic users are Rs. 3.82, Rs. 5.09 and Rs. 20.40 per 1,000lts, respectively. This move is in line with BMC's 2012 resolution.
Hike adds Rs. 41.33cr in BMC's account for this financial-year
Additional Municipal Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee revealed the decision yesterday. With this hike, BMC will add an additional Rs. 41.33cr to its revenue this year, that might be put to use in new projects, said a BMC Hydraulic department official. He added that "increase in maintenance, establishment, administrative and energy costs during the last year" has prompted the civic body to hike the tariffs.
Since 2012, water rates have seen annual rise every year
In 2012, former municipal chief Subodh Kumar had proposed 8% annual hike in water-tariff. The proposal was applicable for 5 years. Following that, the rates were hiked by 8% in 2013 and 2015. Interestingly, BMC didn't raise the rates in 2014 and 2016 due to Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections. In 2017, though BMC elections were held, water tariffs were hiked by 5%.
BMC supplies water at one of the cheapest rates globally
BMC generates water at Rs. 11.33/1,000lts, and is among the world's few civic bodies supplying water at such low rates. Residents also don't seem to mind paying the increased tariff. However, they urge BMC to repair the pipes to avoid leakage and wastage.
