Corporators oppose water charge hike

The members of the standing committee have decided to oppose the civic administration’s move to increase water charge up to 8 per cent. The members have initiated the process for a new proposal that does not need the standing committee’s approval.

In 2012, the civic administration had got approval of a proposal for increasing water charge up to 8 per cent annually. This proposal did not need any consent from either the standing committee or the general body. As per the existing proposal, the civic administration can increase water charge up to 8 per cent annually, depending on the procuring and transporting cost of water. And, the administration will just need to intimate the civic standing committee to implement it. At present, as per the increased cost, the civic body has proposed an increase of 5.39 per cent in the water charge.

However, on Wednesday, the civic standing committee did not allow to table the proposal. Most of the members in the committee decided to bring a separate proposal. Rais Shaikh, corporator and Samajwadi Party group leader informed that the process has already started to bring a separate proposal.

Despite the opposition, corporators cannot prevent the administration in implementing the new charge. A senior official from the hydraulic engineering department said if corporators pose a hurdle, this will affect the coffers of the civic body.