Visakhapatnam: With the GVMC proposing to hike water taxes, Vizagites may have to cough up more money for water supply. Citing the gap between the revenue and operational expenditures, the GVMC has chalked out plans to revise water taxes for all sections of users, including industrial, bulk, semi-bulk and domestic connections. Due to rapid industrialisation and inclusion of Bheemili and Anakapalle in the GVMC limits, the city is already facing the problem of low water supply than demand. The aged and decayed water pipes, which are laid about 20-30 years ago, with frequent leaks and bursts, are also a concern.
At a meeting here with all sections of users, GVMC commissioner Pravin Kumar said the revision of water taxes has become inevitable to keep the financial health of the GVMC intact and he asked all stakeholders to extend support. To support the proposal, he even disclosed some figures. While the revenue from the water supply amounts to Rs 155 crore, the GVMC is paying Rs 172 crore to the irrigation department.
When asked about the percentage of hike, Mr Kumar said, "though a decision has been taken to increase the water taxes, the quantum of the hike and the date of implementation have not been decided yet and it is still in the council."
The Yeleru canal meets about 50 per cent of the water needs of the city and the rest of the water is acquired through Godavari and Raiwada and Tatipudi reservoirs. "Among all the urban bodies in India, water taxes in the GVMC are the lowest collecting only one-third of what other cities are charging. The tax hike proposal had surfaced last year but due to some reasons, we adhered to the old tax regime," the commissioner added. He said more staff would be recruited to plug leakages in pipelines.
