The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Corporation Council may decide water charge increase today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jul 23, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Corporation Council may decide water charge increase today

Special Correspondent

Rates may run into opposition from parties

AIADMK likely to oppose the rise
DMK and the Congress seem unfazed

COIMBATORE: On Monday, people in the city may get to know whether they have to pay 100 per cent extra drinking water consumption charges from January 1 next year.

Coimbatore Corporation sources indicate that the new rates may be placed in the Council at its meeting that day. It may not be a smooth sail, they say. But, there are chances of the rates being passed using the wafer thin, yet decisive margin that will provide allies Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) the required majority.

The Corporation is firm that the rates will have to be increased to wipe out the arrears it owes to the Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board (both water and maintenance charges). It has also made it clear that it needs to generate revenue to fund a new scheme and also for its maintenance.

The firmness of the Corporation in going ahead with the rates has been evident in not going in for an all-party meeting to discuss the need for the increase. Close to 10 meetings were held during the term of the previous Council (2001-2006) to get the approval of all the parties for increasing the water charge. Only after this could the Corporation raise the minimum rate from Rs.2.50 to Rs.3.50 for 1,000 litres (up to 50,000 litres) for house connections.

The Opposition, then led by the DMK, did not allow the rate to be brought on a par with what the Corporation paid to the water board (Rs.4.50) as the minimum charge. T. Malaravan of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was the Mayor. The Opposition insisted on giving water to the people at Re.1 less, stressing social commitment on the part of the civic body towards people in a city that was just about into an economic resurgence.

This time, no such meeting was held. The Corporation plans to double the rates for various categories – something that it had pushed for even during the term of the previous Council.

With a Congress member as the Mayor and supported by the DMK, the AIADMK looks set to oppose any increase in water charges or any other new levy. The Corporation proposes to collect Re.1 a day from every house for door-to-door garbage collection. There are indications that the AIADMK will take a political stand of opposing the rise in water charges and a garbage collection fee, though the Corporation may need to raise funds for projects and their maintenance.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India have already asked the civic body not to levy any garbage collection fee. Therefore, a steep rise in water charges may run into opposition from these parties also. The DMK and the Congress seem unfazed. They look to use the majority on their side to pass the rates when it is tabled in the Council. The DMK has 29 members and the Congress eight. Their combined strength is 37, as against the 35 of the other parties. The number of councillors of the others are: AIADMK- 10, CPI-4, CPI (M)-8, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam- 3, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam- 2, Bharatiya Janata Party- 1 and Independents-7.

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