The Hindu : New Delhi News : Sajjan demands flat rate for sewer connections

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Friday, Jun 10, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Sajjan demands flat rate for sewer connections

Staff Reporter

"Make provision for the payments in instalments''

NEW DELHI: The Member of Parliament from Outer Delhi, Sajjan Kumar, has demanded that on the pattern of giving electricity connections, the development charges for sewer connections in unauthorised colonies should be charged by the Delhi Jal Board at a flat rate instead of in their present form.

Addressing a Press conference, Mr Kumar said the need for a flat charge existed as the residents of these colonies were not financially very well-off. Stating that he had opposed the levy of Rs. 395 per square metre as "unacceptable'' and had written a letter to the Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, to register his dissent at the proposal, Mr Kumar said he had also objected to the rate being pegged at Rs. 200 per square metre later and had even apprised the Board of his opposition.

The Congress leader said in reality more than 50 per cent of the residents of these colonies are not even in a position to pay Rs. 100 per square metre charge and demanded that if any person has already paid in lump sum the demanded amount, he should still be given the connection at the new rate, on which a final decision is still pending.

New connections

Mr Kumar said he had also raised the issue of non-functioning of sewers in unauthorised and regularised colonies and stated that these sewers now needed to be cleaned and repaired before Delhi Jal Board issued new connections.

Claiming that during the tenure of the last BJP Government the amount of development charges was escalated by applying compounded interest thereon, he declaring that he had held detailed discussions with Ms Dikshit on the issue and along with the Member of Parliament from East Delhi, Sandeep Dikshit, as well as MLAs from Outer Delhi and East Delhi, also discussed the issue with her and the Chief Secretary of Delhi, S. Reghunathan.

The Member of Parliament said for whatever amount that is decided by the Delhi Jal Board as per its policy decision, there should be a provision for making the payments in instalments. And, he demanded, that people paying the amount in lump sum should be given a 20 per cent rebate.

Also, Mr Kumar - who was accompanied by Hastsal MLA, Mukesh Sharma, during the conference - demanded that Delhi Jal Board should organised camps in all the colonies for giving sewer connections on the spot.

Noting that a proper sewerage system prevents disease and epidemic by reducing unhygienic living, he said it was also essential for the success for the Clean Yamuna campaign and for generating revenue for the Delhi jal Board.

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