Water tariff hike flayed

CHANDIGARH, Oct 22: The local unit of the Samajwadi Party today condemned the recommendation of sewerage cess and water tariff hike by the BJP-led Municipal Corporation and said that any imposition of tax will create a financial burden on the common people, who have already been hard hit following the hike in prices of diesel and other essential commodities.

Expressing their concern, party members said the BJP has not spared the poor people residing in labour colonies, whereas they have allowed quot;big houses8221; to use drinking water for watering lawns. The party leaders warned that in case the tariff hike was not taken back, they would launch an agitation.

In a statement, local Janata Party president Ajay Jagga criticised the hike in water tarrif and said this has exposed the present BJP-SAD coalition-led Corporation as being inefficient in taking its financial share from the Chandigarh Administration.