On a day the Delhi Government announced 20 kilolitres of free water to households in the Capital, it also increased the tariff by 10 per cent that will be applicable on water consumption beyond the exempted limit.
A flipside to the free water promise made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), this tariff hike evoked mixed response from the consumers who said the move would encourage people to use water judiciously as also prompt them to switch to metered water connection. Come January 1, the households which consume more than 667 litres of water on a daily basis will have to shell out more while paying their water bills.
“The decision to impose a 10 percent tariff hike annually is in accordance with a resolution passed by the Board on November 30, 2009. It was an imminent hike and was passed in the 114th meeting of the DJB which was chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal,” informed a senior DJB official. However, water rates were not increased in January this year as the previous Congress-led Government had put the plan on hold keeping in mind the Assembly Elections.
The final announcement of free water, on Monday, came as a relief to a wide section of people especially those belonging to the middle and lower middle class of the society. Supporters cheered and clapped when the news reached their ears outside Kejriwal’s residence in Girnar Apartments in Kaushambi. “Our hopes were pinned on Kejriwal. He had told us that just like shelter, water too is our right. I will use the money toward my daughter’s education now,” said Girjanand Kishore, a wage worker who lives with his wife and 8-year- old daughter in Kondli.
Many were enthusiastic about the move keeping in view the aspect of water conservation. “People have extremely bad habits. They use drinking water even while washing a car or watering plants. With freebies of such kind, people will at least try to keep a check on wastage of water. It will also influence many to get meters installed in their homes,” said Sakshi Jain, an architect residing in Mayur Vihar Phase I.
However, the implementation of AAP’s key manifesto point was not much of news for people belonging to affluent colonies. “We are a people of four and our monthly water consumption is nearly 40 to 45 kilolitres every two months. The day has rather come as a bad news for us as from next year we will have to pay 10 per cent more on water,” said Vipin Yadav, a resident of Paschim Vihar.