The BMC generates water at Rs10.40 per kilo litre, and supplies it to middle-class housing societies at just Rs3.50. Political pressure has resulted in slums getting water at an even cheaper rate.
The BMC has deferred its plan to hike water tariff fearing political outcry. But Dr Madhav Chitale, the state’s most famous water management specialist, said that the civic body should do it now.
Chitale, who has been awarded the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize, said that a sizeable hike in tariff was the need of the hour.
Otherwise, the big-ticket water supply projects needed to bail the city out of its never-ending water crisis would not take off because of funds crunch.
The BMC generates water at Rs10.40 per kilo litre, and supplies it to middle-class housing societies at just Rs3.50. Political pressure has resulted in slums getting water at an even cheaper
rate.
Speaking at a seminar in Wadala on Sunday, the eve of World Water Day, Chitale said that the city needed to tap new freshwater reserves, recycle waste water, and improve water distribution network without further delay.
Veteran journalist Kumar Ketkar, chief guest at the seminar, said that in order to curb wastage price slabs should be introduced on the basis of the duration of water supply. Societies getting water round-the-clock should be charged more than those getting rationed supply.
Salt water threat: Chitale warned against banking too much on groundwater. “Excessive and unplanned tapping of groundwater will be disastrous,” he said. “It could lead to salt water ingress, which will damage infrastructure in the long run.” Trashing the BMC plan to set up desalination plants along the coastline he said, “It will not be financially viable.”
Increase storage in dams: Chitale added that the technology used to build dams should be changed. “We might experience deficient monsoon every five years. So, a reserve quota (20% of the dam’s capacity) needs to be created.”
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