A lot of complaints had been recorded earlier with the department concerned and the ministry too over the hike in water taxes imposed on the residents of Haridwar. The aggrieved residents said the hike was unjustified. They further alleged that some local leaders have been enjoying water supply free of cost over the years.
Talking to The Pioneer, the Executive Engineer of Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan, DP Srivastava said that water tax is being charged on the basis of annual assessment done by Haridwar municipal corporation. Previously, the water tax bills were issued on yearly basis. later, things were changed to quarterly basis. There was no clause of penalty for non-payment of bills after the due date expired. However, in 2013, tariff of water tax was revised and provision of monthly penalty of five per cent as a late payment was added, he informed.
It is pertinent to mention here that provision of penalty was enforced from April 1, 2013. For areas which are neither in the rural nor in municipal areas, water tax is levied on tap basis. For one tap, one has to pay Rs60 per month. Similarly, for two taps, the figure is Rs75 while for three taps Rs112 and for four or more, it is Rs135 per month. Srivastava further informed that for new connection of water supply, one time payment of Rs4,090 is charged for domestic connection and Rs4,890 for commercial connection. There are total 62,409 connections in the city which come under the jurisdiction of Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan Haridwar, he informed.
There are nine centres in the city where the water bills can be paid. He also added that over 65 per cent of the residents are paying the water bills regularly. The drive against the defaulters would be launched soon, he added. However, in the absence of a water policy, the people are doing deep boring for their water needs. This is a dangerous trend, according to the specialists. This practice is widely adopted by the realtors engaged in erecting flats and multi- storey buildings. This will definitely spell dangers in time to come. The builders are using the absence of a well-defined water policy of the State Government up to the hilt, spelling disaster for the long-term interests of the areas, an observer said.
