HUBLI: After a prolonged discussion and amidst heated arguments, the special meeting of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation Council here on Tuesday approved the revised water tariff. The council's tenure ends on June 18 and this was the last meeting of the House.

According to the revised water tariff, although there is no change in the minimum charges (Rs. 60), the quantity of water supplied had been increased from 10,000 litres to 15,000 litres to those households that had installed water meters. But for houses that have not installed water meters, they will be given three months time. Otherwise, they would be charged double the minimum charges and it would be later increased according to the guidelines issued under the Government Order of November 15, 1996.

The Council felt that the technical staff of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWS&DB), including the Assistant Engineer, Junior Engineer and Assistant Executive Engineer should conduct a survey of those areas where the board was unable to supply minimum quantity of water (15,000 litres) per month.

In such areas, installation of water meters should not be made compulsory until steps were taken to resolve the problem.

Heated arguments

The former Mayor Anilkumar Patil argued that if those who installed water meters were not benefited for doing so, it was natural that not many would come forward to install the meters. He said minimum charges should be reduced for those households that came forward to install the water meters.

Dr. Patil urged the Mayor to constitute an expert committee to look into the issue.

Intervening in the debate, corporation Commissioner P. Manivannan agreed with Dr. Patil on forming a committee.

There was confusion when some councillors opposed the demand of Dr. Patil. Mayor Hanumanthappa Betageri gave a ruling and went out of the meeting hall.

Since it was a special meeting and there was another issue to be discussed, the Congress members called back the Mayor to the meeting after which the discussions resumed.

It was only after a few other councillors spoke that the Mayor gave a ruling regarding water tariff.

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