-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Wishing all Goanetters | | a Prosperous | | and | | Happy New Year - 2006 | | Goanet - http://www.goanet.org | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.navhindtimes.com/stories.php?part=news&Story_ID=011334
New water tariff to figure in fresh bill NT Staff Reporter Panaji Jan 12: Both domestic and commercial consumers of drinking water may be in for an unpleasant surprise when they receive their water bills for the last two months. The government vide a notification dated October 24, 2005, has increased the water tariff for various categories of consumers under the Goa Revision of Tariff for Water Supply and Meter Rent Order, 2005, which is feared to affect those receiving the tap water under the domestic consumers category. The notification came into force from November 1, 2005 The new tariff table has fixed the rate of Rs 2.50 per cubic metre up to the first 15 cubic metres of water used, under the domestic consumers category; this rate remaining unchanged. However, if the used water exceeds 15 cubic metres up to 50 cubic metres, then the rate charged would be Rs 5.50 per cubic metre. Furthermore, if a consumer uses water quantity between 50 cubic metres and 65 cubic metres, he will have to pay Rs 12 per cubic metre. Finally, the rate per cubic metre of water will be Rs 30, if the used water crosses the 65 cubic metres mark. The tariff would further hit hard, the residents of the apartments which are not part of the registered co-operative societies. The notification states, "In respect of registered co-operative housing societies which have been given single water supply connection covering large number of residential flats, the basis for the tariff shall be number of flats in the housing society though the single house service connection is give." For example, in case a single house service connection feeds say 50 residential flats in the registered co-operative housing society, 50 x 15 cubic metres shall be charged at the rate of Rs 2.50 per cubic metre and quantity above 50 x 15 cubic metres shall be at the rate of Rs 5.50 and likewise as indicated in the domestic consumers category, in increasing progression. In addition, the new tariff table has fixed a rate of Rs 500 per trip of a small water tanker up to 6 cubic metres, while Rs 700 will be charged per trip of a large tanker with capacity between 6 cubic metres and 10 cubic metres. The Minister for Public Works Department, Mr Ramkrishna Dhavlikar told The Navhind Times that the hike was done with the sole aim to prevent the wastage of water. "Any family with four members needs a maximum of 10 to 15 cubic metres of water per month and if this amount exceeds, it can be assumed that the particular family is wasting water," he added. Mr Dhavlikar also said that though the families using water judiciously would not feel the pinch of the new tariff table, those wasting water while watering their gardens and filling the swimming pools would have to pay through their nose. However, he said, we have increased the water rates for hospitals as it was found that there is a lot of water wastage in these health service institutions. Reacting sharply to the new tariff table, the leader of the opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar today charged the government of back-door price hike of water, which would greatly affect the common man. Addressing a press conference, Mr Parrikar said that the domestic consumers, if they reside in an unregistered co-operative housing society, would be forced to pay as high as Rs 30 per cubic meter of water per person. "This rise is almost 4 times the existing rate and would affect the non-registered societies with maximum apartments, the most," he added. The leader of the opposition also blamed the government of not giving proper publicity to this water price hike. "Once the water bills are received by the consumers under the domestic category, they will know the gravity of the situation," he pointed out. Coming out strongly against the functioning of the government, Mr Parrikar said that the rates now charged for the water supplied under the domestic category are at par with that supplied under the commercial category. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Goa - 2005 Santosh Trophy Champions | | | | Support Soccer Activities at the grassroots in our villages | | Vacationing in Goa this year-end - Carry and distribute Soccer Balls | --------------------------------------------------------------------------
