NAGPUR: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation has announced a 5% increase in water tariff from April 1. The tariff has now gone up by 20% in the last four years. TOI was the first to report about the expected hike on March 31.
The water tariff has increased to Rs 6.07 per unit/1,000 litres for residential consumers. The rate will be applicable for consumption up to 20 units. The tariff will steeply increase to Rs 9.73 per unit for water consumption up to 30 units. The new tariff would be Rs 17.37 per unit to Rs 23.15 per unit for commercial consumers.
"There is a huge gap between the expense and revenue in water works. NMC is supplying 600 million litres per day (MLD) but billing stands below 250 MLD. Reducing losses is a solution but we need to ensure meters in all houses. Around 6 lakh families reside in the city but there are only 1.80L with water connections. Besides, the payment to private water operator Orange City Water Private Limited (OCW) has to be made according to contract conditions," said municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane justifying the hike.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Water-costlier-from-today/articleshow/33038361.cms
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
Monday, 31 March 2014
Water tariff to increase to Rs 6 per unit tomorrow
NAGPUR: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is set to hike the water tariff to Rs 6.07 per unit from April 1. This would be the fourth consecutive year when water tariff is hiked. The civic body is increasing the tariff every year since it is paying high rates to private water operator Orange City Water Private Limited (OCW).
The proposal to hike the water tariff has nothing to do with raw water cost or the power tariff, say sources. If any of these costs go up, NMC revises the water tariff immediately in the next quarter. The citizens will have to bear higher tariff in case there is a revision in raw water and power tariff in 2014-15 beginning from April 1.
The Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) has already kicked off the process to hike raw water tariff and a decision likely in the coming days. Besides, power tariff hike also cannot be ruled out.
The NMC water works department proposed a 5% increase in water tariff on Saturday. The existing tariff is Rs 5.79 per unit/1,000 litres and this will increase to Rs 6.07. The rate will be applicable for consumption up to 20 units. The tariff will steeply increase to Rs 9.73 per unit for water consumption up to 30 units followed by Rs 13.37 per unit up to 80 units and Rs 18.23 per unit for over 80 units.
NMC sources told TOI the accounts and finance department approved the proposal and sent it back to the water works department. Now, the department will submit the proposal to municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane for approval followed by implementation of new tariff.
According to the NMC data, the civic body used to bill less than 190 million litres per day (MLD) in 2010-11. However, NMC agreed to pay OCW for 250 MLD water. Also, the water tariff was Rs 5 per unit but NMC agreed to pay Rs 7.90 per unit to OCW.
To cope with the high rate promised to OCW, NMC hiked the water tariff to Rs 8 per unit in 2009-10. But the BJP-ruled civic body had to reduce the tariff to Rs 5 per unit following strong opposition from various organizations and citizens. While bringing down the tariff, a resolution was passed to give powers to the civic chief to hike the tariff by 5%, if required, every year. Since then, water tariff has been hiked 5% every year.
Unfortunately, NMC has been unable to bridge the gap between revenue and expenditure by increasing the billing and reducing high water losses. Instead, the losses have only increased in the last two years under the private operator.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Water-tariff-to-increase-to-Rs-6-per-unit-tomorrow/articleshow/32991370.cms
The proposal to hike the water tariff has nothing to do with raw water cost or the power tariff, say sources. If any of these costs go up, NMC revises the water tariff immediately in the next quarter. The citizens will have to bear higher tariff in case there is a revision in raw water and power tariff in 2014-15 beginning from April 1.
The Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) has already kicked off the process to hike raw water tariff and a decision likely in the coming days. Besides, power tariff hike also cannot be ruled out.
The NMC water works department proposed a 5% increase in water tariff on Saturday. The existing tariff is Rs 5.79 per unit/1,000 litres and this will increase to Rs 6.07. The rate will be applicable for consumption up to 20 units. The tariff will steeply increase to Rs 9.73 per unit for water consumption up to 30 units followed by Rs 13.37 per unit up to 80 units and Rs 18.23 per unit for over 80 units.
NMC sources told TOI the accounts and finance department approved the proposal and sent it back to the water works department. Now, the department will submit the proposal to municipal commissioner Shyam Wardhane for approval followed by implementation of new tariff.
According to the NMC data, the civic body used to bill less than 190 million litres per day (MLD) in 2010-11. However, NMC agreed to pay OCW for 250 MLD water. Also, the water tariff was Rs 5 per unit but NMC agreed to pay Rs 7.90 per unit to OCW.
To cope with the high rate promised to OCW, NMC hiked the water tariff to Rs 8 per unit in 2009-10. But the BJP-ruled civic body had to reduce the tariff to Rs 5 per unit following strong opposition from various organizations and citizens. While bringing down the tariff, a resolution was passed to give powers to the civic chief to hike the tariff by 5%, if required, every year. Since then, water tariff has been hiked 5% every year.
Unfortunately, NMC has been unable to bridge the gap between revenue and expenditure by increasing the billing and reducing high water losses. Instead, the losses have only increased in the last two years under the private operator.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Water-tariff-to-increase-to-Rs-6-per-unit-tomorrow/articleshow/32991370.cms
Centre approves funds for 3 water treatment plants
AHMEDABAD: The Union urban development ministry has approved funds under JNNURM for three critical water treatment plants in the city, just before the model code of conduct for polls came into force. The projects had been pending with the JNNURM committee for sometime.
The first is a water recycling and reuse project near Bhavans college. To cost Rs 91 crore, the project will have a water treatment capacity of 60 million litres per day (MLD). Rs 8 crore has been released for the project by the central government. The second project concerns a similar plant at the Pirana water treatment facility which witnesses a large amount of sewage flowing into the Sabarmati. The third water treatment project worth Rs 58.75 crore is being planned for Jal Vihar and Juna Vadaj. "The total worth of these projects is Rs 105.60 crore. The Centre will bear 35% of the total cost," said a senior AMC official.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Centre-approves-funds-for-3-water-treatment-plants/articleshow/32984071.cms
The first is a water recycling and reuse project near Bhavans college. To cost Rs 91 crore, the project will have a water treatment capacity of 60 million litres per day (MLD). Rs 8 crore has been released for the project by the central government. The second project concerns a similar plant at the Pirana water treatment facility which witnesses a large amount of sewage flowing into the Sabarmati. The third water treatment project worth Rs 58.75 crore is being planned for Jal Vihar and Juna Vadaj. "The total worth of these projects is Rs 105.60 crore. The Centre will bear 35% of the total cost," said a senior AMC official.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Centre-approves-funds-for-3-water-treatment-plants/articleshow/32984071.cms
Sinnar faces water scarcity for 3rd year running
NASHIK: With the rise in day temperatures, the number of tankers supplying water to the villages in the district has gone up in last twenty days. Despite good rainfall in 2013, the water levels have failed to increase enough to give relief to Sinnar residents, who are facing scarcity-like situation for the third consecutive year.
District administration officials said that the number of tankers supplied in the district has gone up from 34 to 47 within this month. As many as 147 villages and hamlets are getting water through tankers.
Sinnar taluka has the maximum number of villages being supplied water through tankers as of now. Of the 47 tankers deployed in the district, 29 are supplying water in the taluka.
"As many as 15 villages and 108 hamlets in the taluka are facing water scarcity. Hence, 29 tankers have been pressed into service to provide drinking water to the villagers," officials from scarcity branch said.
The number of villages requiring water supply as their own sources of water have dried down has gone up from 24 to 37. Similarly, the number of hamlets requiring water supply to meet daily requirements has from 90 to 110 in the last three weeks.
"There are nine measures that have to be undertaken before opting for starting water tanker supply to any village. The steps include temporary repairs to water sources, identification of water sources nearby and channelising water from them to the village, taking up bore wells to get the water supply source and others before starting of water supply tanker to the area," the official said.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/Sinnar-faces-water-scarcity-for-3rd-year-running/articleshow/32980933.cms
District administration officials said that the number of tankers supplied in the district has gone up from 34 to 47 within this month. As many as 147 villages and hamlets are getting water through tankers.
Sinnar taluka has the maximum number of villages being supplied water through tankers as of now. Of the 47 tankers deployed in the district, 29 are supplying water in the taluka.
"As many as 15 villages and 108 hamlets in the taluka are facing water scarcity. Hence, 29 tankers have been pressed into service to provide drinking water to the villagers," officials from scarcity branch said.
The number of villages requiring water supply as their own sources of water have dried down has gone up from 24 to 37. Similarly, the number of hamlets requiring water supply to meet daily requirements has from 90 to 110 in the last three weeks.
"There are nine measures that have to be undertaken before opting for starting water tanker supply to any village. The steps include temporary repairs to water sources, identification of water sources nearby and channelising water from them to the village, taking up bore wells to get the water supply source and others before starting of water supply tanker to the area," the official said.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nashik/Sinnar-faces-water-scarcity-for-3rd-year-running/articleshow/32980933.cms
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