Water hike plan maybe shot down

PUNE, Jan 21: All political parties are likely to oppose the water tax hike as proposed in the draft budgetary outlay of the Pune Municipal Corporation PMC for the year 1999-2000.

Standing committee chairman Ramesh Bodke told media persons that there had been a hike in the water tax last year itself, and before sending the budget to the general body for the final approval, the committee has called a special meeting of the office bearers and party leaders on Friday to discuss the issue.

The civic administration has proposed a two-fold hike in the water tax by scrapping the meterised water system. Municipal Commissioner Rajiv Agarwal has proposed the introduction of water cess at a flat rate and has suggested a charge of Rs 1,500 from property owners who pay the property tax up to Rs 5,000.

The draft budget also proposes to charge 30 per cent water cess of the property tax from those who pay an annual property tax more than Rs 5000.