Residents oppose hike in water tariff,say check theft first

Residents said Huda was failed to curb water theft

The city residents have opposed the hike in water tariff by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (Huda) effective from June 1. The residents of various localities are now planning to meet Huda administrator Yashpal Yadav to submit a memorandum asking him to roll back the hike.

Yogender Bhati, president of residents’ welfare association (RWA) in Sector 27, said the Huda increased the water tariff by more than three times. (HT FILE PHOTO)

Yogender Bhati, president of residents’ welfare association (RWA) in Sector 27, said the Huda increased the water tariff by more than three times.

“The hike means that we will have to pay Rs 125-150 a month as water bill for a family of five. Earlier, the bill used to be less than Rs 20-25 a month. Such a hike is unreasonable and the Huda will have to face protests from residents,” Bhati said, adding that residents and heads of various localities met on Wednesday and decided to hold a protest after meeting the administrator next week.

As per new water rate, a family will have to pay Rs 5 for every 1000 litres for up to a consumption of 20,000 litres per month. For every 1000 liters above the consumption limit of 20,000 litres per month, one will have to pay Rs 10.

The residents have opposed the hike saying that the Huda has failed to check water theft and pilferage in unauthorised sectors.

“The city is flooded with slums and unauthorized areas that consume excess water illegally and cause massive revenue loss to the Haryana government. The Huda should check all such illegal acts and regularise such colonies to increase revenue, rather than forcing law-abiding citizens to pay for the people who avail of facilities without paying for them,” said SN Yadav, vice president, joint action forum of residents’ association (Jafra).

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The Huda said it had last hiked the water rates in 2001.

“After 16 long years, the Huda has increased the water bill. I cannot comment more than that at present,” Huda administrator Yashpal Yadav said.

The Huda supplies roughly 60 MGD (million gallons per day) water a day from its two water treatment plants at Basai and Chandu Budhera. Huda supplies water to residents in sectors directly, while in municipal areas, it gives the water to the municipal corporation and to developers for supply to private localities.