The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) is going to increase water charges to meet the expenses being incurred to supply water to over 12 lakh population of the city.
The city has 1,01,250 water connections, both both residential and non-residential.
General connections are 56,515, BPL connections are 37,210, apartment connections are 4,724 and non-residential connections are 2,800. The VMC charges Rs.80 for the general tap connection, Rs.50 for BPL family and Rs.8.25 per 1,000 kilo litres for apartment connections. The VMC collects double charges for non-residential taps i.e. Rs.16.50 per 1,000 KL.
Water meters have been fixed to 4,724 apartments in the city to collect the details of the water quantity supplied every day. The VMC is collecting Rs.8 crore per annum on drinking water tap connections while the expenditure is Rs.16 crore on supply.
As per the JNNURM reforms, the local bodies have to match the income and expenditure on water supply.
The Union government is sanctioning grants to the states under the JNNURM conditional on implementation of reforms.
The VMC officials are awaiting the release of orders from the state government to increase tariff. Municipal commissioner, G. Ravi Babu said “We follow the instructions of the state government on increase of water charges. The VMC reviewed the water supply in the city and recognised the need for increase in tariff.”
Meanwhile, the Opposition parties are criticizing the JNNURM reforms and the proposed hike of water charges.
CPM former floor leader Ch. Babu Rao said it is the responsibility of local bodies to supply drinking water to people. He said the government is determined to hike charges because of JNNURM reforms.
He felt poor and middle class people would suffer with the hike of drinking water charges, and demanded the government to withdraw the proposal.
The VMC is collecting Rs.2,500 for issuing tap connection, Rs.2,500 for road cutting, Rs.200 for supervisory charges and Rs.25 for application.
For white ration card holders, the connection charges are only Rs.200. The move comes after the state government had hiked the property tax in municipalities and corporations.