Revision in Water tariff likely

CHANDIGARH, June 9: There is likely to be a revision in water tariff in the City. The charges to be paid by the major residential consumers ...

CHANDIGARH, June 9: There is likely to be a revision in water tariff in the City. The charges to be paid by the major residential consumers may be increased considerably. The revision in tariff and other issues were discussed at the meeting of UT Administrator Lt Gen retd B.K.N. Chhibber with senior officials of the Administration and the Municipal Corporation.

The Administrator had called the meeting to review the water and power situation in the Union Territory and the measures that could be taken to deal with the shortage in the coming years. Those who attended the meeting included the Adviser, Jagdish Sagar and the Municipal Commissioner Satish Gathwal. Participants at the meeting felt that since the City residents were increasingly facing problems of water shortage, the residences where large quantities of water are consumed should pay more for it. While there is a separate tariff structure already for commercial and industrial users, this may be revised too.

It was felt that rationalising the tariff structure would also lead the residents to be more economical in the use of water. Officials point out, however, that the decision on the tariff increase may not be taken immediately. This was because the municipal councillors may not favour an increase in tariff, as it may lead to resentment among the residents. It may be mentioned here that the Planning Commission, while approving the fourth phase of the Kajauli water works, had recommended that the water tariff in the city should be rationalised. The Commission had recommended that the Corporation should at least recover the operational costs so that it does not have to incur heavy losses.

The wastage of water in the slums and the Economically Weaker Section EWS colonies was discussed too. About five million gallons of water per day are supplied to these colonies and according to an estimate, about 25 per cent of it goes waste. It was discussed that metering the water connections would considerably reduce the wastage. Efforts would also be made to replace the defective water meters, about 40,000 in number, so that the billing was actual and not on average basis.

On the electricity front, UT officials pointed out that the consumption this year was already 14 per cent higher than last year. The problems in the supply from Dhulkot and Pinjore were discussed and also some snags in the supply coming from S.A.S. Nagar. Officials said that in order to deal with the problems faced in the residential areas, the supply to a major industrial consumer had been staggered.

Members expressed concern that since supply from the existing sources was not likely to be increased, other steps would have to be taken to ensure adequate supply of power in the City in the coming years. The setting up of a small scale thermal power plant to augment the supply was discussed. Officials said that the proposal had been considered earlier too, but had to be given up on account of environmental problems.

It was felt that energy-saving lights could be installed in the government offices. Also, members favoured that large consumers of electricity viz industries and institutions should have an energy audit to economise on consumption and reduce their own bills too.

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Another issue taken up was the poor response to the scheme launched last year for voluntary disclosure of extra load on account of ACs. It was felt that the Engineering Dept should strictly enforce load restrictions so that those who installed ACs inform the department.