Chennai: In an unprecedented move, Chennai Metrowater has hiked the price of the water loads supplied to the city.
A tanker with a capacity of 9,000 litres will now cost Rs 735 instead of Rs 700. The officials reportedly issued no prior official public announcement regarding the price increase. However, circulars have been issued to area engineers independently.
In this regard, metro water officials have claimed that the rise was just a regular revision and attributed it to the plummeting fuel fares. They also termed the 5% hike as ‘marginal rise’, according to reports. The officials have informed that the hike is not a permanent one and added that if the cost of the fuel goes down, the prices will be lowered. The price is reportedly calculated taking into account the transporting cost per trip, according to fuel consumption and the fluctuation infuel prices.
Notably, the summer months proved challenging for the board as they had to cater to the increasing water needs of the people. The state was in the grip hold of a severe drought and the private water tankers had made the most out of the situation by selling water for almost twice or thrice the original price. Amidst the mounting complaints, the board introduced ‘Dial for water 2.0, a scheme by which water was to be delivered to citizens within twodays of booking. The monsoon rains, however, have eased the water crisis in the state with the four major reservoirs, supplying water to the city expected to attain its full capacity in the upcoming months.
