The Hindu : New Delhi News : BJP petitions L-G on water tariff hike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 23, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

BJP petitions L-G on water tariff hike

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, NOV. 22. The local Bharatiya Janata Party Legislature Party today urged the Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi, B.L. Joshi, to intervene and issue directions to the Sheila Dikshit Government against effecting a sharp increase in the water charges and also restrain the Congress-ruled Municipal Corporation of Delhi from imposing a new professional tax on the residents of Delhi.

In a memorandum submitted to Mr. Joshi, the BJP delegation strongly opposed the move by the Delhi Government to sharply increase the water tariffs by 100 to 500 per cent. "What was most shocking was that even the lowest rates were being increased three times and the minimum charges of water had been fixed as per the size of the plot. Over and above the water bill, the consumers would also have to pay sewerage charge on the total amount of the bill."

The memorandum said that BJP was of the firm opinion that public utilities like water, public transport, medical facilities and power should be provided by the Government at reasonable rates. However, it charged that due to pressure from the World Bank and in order to benefit a few private companies, the Sheila Dikshit Government had embarked upon a road map for privatisation of the water sector also and leave the consumers at the mercy of the private companies. The water hike was a condition imposed by the World Bank on the Delhi Government before it undertook privatisation of water distribution. The delegation was of the view that instead of hiking the water tariff, the Government should first make efforts to plug the nearly 40 per cent leakage in the distribution system and also put a stop to the every increasing non-Plan expenditure.

Later, Mr. Mukhi said that Delhi at present faced an acute shortage of water. As per the data given by the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, on the floor of the House, Delhi's water demand stands at 400 MGD presently but the Government was able to supply only 600 MGD. Of this 600 MGD, nearly 30 to 40 per cent water was lost as leakage and in flushing activity. Therefore only 400 MGD of water was available for actual distribution indicating that 50 per cent the population still did not get regular supply of water. It is unfortunate that Congress that claims to be with the poor and common man is bent up burdening the masses without any real reason.

About the professional tax, the BJP delegation flayed the November 17 decision of the Congress-ruled MCD and said the people were already paying income tax and service tax part from the local taxes and sales tax. "It is totally unjustified to impose another tax on the salaried and professional class and the BJP strongly condemns this move. The imposition of such a tax will only lead to increase in corrupt practices in the Corporation,'' it said, adding that the entire Capital was shocked by the decision of the Congress-ruled MCD.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi