Himachal does away with free water supply in rural areas

However, certain categories, including widows, destitute women and disabled persons, will get relief with free water connections.

According to the new tariff, the cost for using 0 to 20 kilolitres of water will be Rs 19.30 per kilolitre, Rs 33.28 for 20 to 30 kilolitres, and Rs 59.90 for more than 30 kilolitres. A minimum maintenance charge of Rs 110 per month will be imposed on households for water connections. If the meter is faulty, the average bill from the last three months will be used, and a charge of Rs 444.07 per month will be applied. These rates are applicable to domestic consumers in rural areas.

For luxury hotels in the state, the new rates will be Rs 106.30 for 0 to 30 kilolitres, Rs 141.76 for 30 to 75 kilolitres, and Rs 194.85 for usage above 75 kilolitres. The minimum maintenance charge for these hotels will be Rs 220 per month, and if the meter is faulty, a charge of Rs 7,779.70 will be applied.

The Water Resources Department has also set new rates for commercial consumers and institutions. Government institutions, hospitals, schools, dharamshalas, religious places, dhabas, shops, washing centres, homestays, private hospitals, private schools, private offices, restaurants, and other ordinary hotels will be charged Rs 19.30 per kilolitre for 0 to 20 kilolitres of water, Rs 33.28 for 20 to 30 kilolitres, Rs 59.90 for 30 to 50 kilolitres, Rs 106.30 for 50 to 100 kilolitres, and Rs 150 for water usage above 100 kilolitres. A minimum maintenance charge of Rs 110 has been fixed.

The government has also determined new rates for sewerage connections. For domestic users, this charge will be Rs 500, for commercial users Rs 1,000, and for non-domestic, non-commercial users, this charge will be Rs 2,500. Institutions using their own water sources in urban areas will be charged Rs 25 per sheet of sewage.

The BJP has slammed the Congress-led state government for doing away with free water supply. Leader of Opposition and former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur termed the decision a betrayal of the promises made to the people of the state. Thakur said, “The Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government which came to power on the promises of providing free electricity, water is now betraying the people of the state by imposing these water charges.”