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In Noida, residents forced to shell out more for water bottles
The residents of Noida who have been grappling with frequent power cuts are now forced to pay more for packaged drinking water bottles.
The residents of Noida who have been grappling with frequent power cuts are now forced to pay more for packaged drinking water bottles.
Water bottles are being sold at a price that is 30 per cent more than the maximum retail price across the city.
A one-litre water bottle having an MRP of Rs. 15 is being sold at Rs. 20 in almost every market in the city.
Shopkeepers claim that they are completely dependent on generators to run cooling equipment such as fridge. The residents allege that shopkeepers are selling water bottles above MRP to overcome the losses.
“The water supply in our area is erratic. Besides, the supplied water is not fit for consumption. We have to buy water bottles for drinking,” said Rajesh Khatri, a resident of Sector 20.
Adding to the residents’ woes, even the suppliers of water cans have increased the rate due to the extra expenditure they have to bear on power. The prices of water cans have been hiked by up to Rs. 15.
“Due to irregular power supply, our treatment plant is being run on generators. For the last two days, my plant has received power for only eight hours. We were incurring losses. So prices have been increased by R10 to R15 per can,” said Kamal, a bottled water supplier.
