The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : No rollback of hike in water charges: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 28, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

No rollback of hike in water charges: Minister

Staff Reporter

Anbarasan tells civic groups the increase is just

TAMBARAM : Putting an end to the controversy and confusion over monthly charges being paid by residents of Pallavaram Municipality, Alandur MLA and Labour Welfare Minister T. M. Anbarasan said the hiked charges could not be lowered and appealed to civic groups to cooperate.

The Minister was interacting with residents and office-bearers of civic groups including the Federation of Civic and Welfare Associations of Pallavaram Municipality last week.

The Pallavaram Municipal council had given its consent to increase the monthly charges from

Rs. 25 to Rs. 50.50 in December 2002, but it came into force only in 2005. Even in 2005, there were lot of protests from a section of councillors and civic groups on the grounds that it was unfair to collect an increased sum at a time when water supply was decreasing. Even after the new set of councillors were elected last year, debate over the hike in monthly charges continued.

Mr. Anbarasan's statement has put an end to the confusion. The Minister said that the neighbouring Alandur and Tambaram Municipalities were collecting monthly charges of Rs. 60 and Rs. 65 respectively.

While Tambaram residents got about 75 lakh litres of Palar water daily, Alandur Municipality received close to 80 lakh litres from Metrowater a day.

And at present, Pallavaram too was being supplied with 70 lakh litres of water day.

The Minister said that the hike was not unjust and was in proportion to water supplied to residents.

E.Karunanidhi, Municipal Chairman, said the issue pertaining to collection of arrears would be taken up with the State Government for consideration in favour of the residents.

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