Shimla, October 28
The Himachal Pradesh government has given its nod for increasing the water charges in the Shimla Municipal Corporation and its adjoining areas.
As per the official notification issued in this regard, the rate for the domestic consumers within the corporation area has been increased from Rs 2.50 to Rs 3.50 per kilolitre up to a consumption of 30,000 litres per month. The charges for consumption from 30,000 litres to 75,000 litres will be Rs 5 per kilolitres and beyond that Rs 7.50 per kilolitres.
For the areas falling outside the corporation limits, the charges will be Rs 12.50 per kilolitre up to 30,000 litres, Rs 15 per kilolitre for consumption between 30,000 litres and 75,000 litres and Rs 17.50 per kilolitre for consumption in excess of 75,000 litres per month.
For commercial supply, the charges within the corporation area for monthly consumption up to 30,000 litres have been increased from Rs 12.50 per kilolitre to Rs 15 per kilolitre, from 30,000 litres to 70,000 litres, Rs 20 per kilolitre and beyond that Rs 27.50 per kilolitre. Water for construction work will be supplied at the rate of Rs 27.50 per kilolitre. For a commercial connection, a minimum amount of Rs 120 per month will have to be paid for consumption up to 8000 litres. In case of water supplied for construction the minimum amount will be Rs 220 per month.
Government institutions, serais and religious places will be charged at the rate of Rs 15 per kilolitre. The rates will be automatically increased by ten per cent every year. The revision has been effected on the directions of the high court which observed that there was no justification for supplying water at such highly subsidised rates. The cost of supply came to Rs 27.50 per kilolitre and the consumers were being charged on average Rs 5 per kilolitre.
The new rates will be formally approved by the corporation at its meeting scheduled for October 30 and come into force with effect from October 6, 2003.
