Water bill zooms in thirsty Rajkot,but no plan to shut swimming pools

Even as its water bill is mounting due to dependence on Narmada supply,Rajkot Municipal Corporation has decided to continue its four public swimming pool “in the interest of students and due to vacation time” and will issue forms for quarterly membership from Friday onwards.

The entire city has been dependent on Narmada water for last four months. The civic body has been allotted a quota of 98.5 million litres per day (MLD) water from Narmada project by the state government at Rs 6,000 per MLD. However,the present water demand of the city is around 165 MLD. Gujrat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB) is selling RMC the additional 66 MLD water at the rate of Rs 12,000 per MLD.

However,the civic body is paying GWSSB Rs 6,000 per MLD for the total supply it gets. “Presently,we are billing the total supply at Rs 6,000 per MLD and at this rate,our monthly water bill comes to around Rs 2.5 crore. We have written to the state government twice to supply us the additional water at concessional rates due to scarcity,” said Vasant Rajyaguru,city engineer (water works) of RMC.