Ranchi Mayor Asha Lakra on Wednesday staged a protest along with hundreds of BJP workers outside Raj Bhawan in Ranchi against the hike in water tax and water connection charges imposed by the JMM-Congress coalition government in State.
Lakra, who later handed over a memorandum to Governor Ramesh Bais seeking withdrawal of the additional charges on water, accused the government of hiking water tax despite the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) unanimously deciding against it in its latest meeting.“The hike in water taxes and water connection charges is illegal and unwarranted as the Ranchi civic body decided against it. The government should withdraw its orders related to water tax hike at the earliest,” said Lakra, urging Ranchi residents to protest against the “diktat” of the State government and refrain from paying additional charges.According to the latest water tax policy, water connection charge has been hiked by about 14 times, while water tax has been increased by 50 per cent. Residential consumers will have to pay Rs.7000 for water connection. Earlier, water connection charge was Rs.500 across Jharkhand, said Lakra. Ranchi Legislator CP Singh also extended his support to the protesting Mayor and ward councillors, and termed the hike in water tax “anti-people”. Water, Singh said, was the right of all the residents of Jharkhand, and charging such exorbitant money from locals was unbecoming of the government.“At a time when residents in many areas of the state are deprived of water supply at home, the government should first focus on ensuring water supply to all the residents,” said Singh, adding that the hike in water tax was a dictatorial move with the wants and needs of poor residents left unconsidered.
The movement against the government’s move of hiking water tax and water connection charges will soon gain momentum across the state, said Singh, requesting locals to join the crusade and force the government to withdraw its decision.
Lakra said that earlier residential consumers had to pay Rs.6 per kiloliter of drinking water, and now, people would have to pay Rs.9 per kiloliter. For the use of more than 50,000 liters of water, the rate of Rs 10.80 per kiloliter will have to be paid.
The Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) also questioned the decision of the state government. “The water supply infrastructure in the state is weak. The government should first take steps to expand the water supply lines and improve its infrastructure,” a statement from the trade body said.