Ashok Gehlot offers free water ahead of polls, to benefit 3.4 crore consumers
TNN | Mar 9, 2019, 08:05 IST
Picture used for representational purpose onlyJAIPUR/JODHPUR: In a major dole ahead of Lok Sabha polls, chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday made water free for both rural and urban consumers in various categories. While consumers in rural areas will not be charged for using up to 40 litres of water per person a day, the same will be 15,000 litres a month for every urban connection.
The move is expected to benefit about 3.36 crore domestic consumers and add an additional burden of Rs 161 crore on the bleeding exchequer. The revised tariff structure will come into effect on April 1.
The state government has also cancelled existing water slabs for all these consumers. Urban consumers will no longer have to pay sewerage and development charges along with other surcharges, and the current flat rate billing system for urban consumers has also been scrapped.
"The decision has been taken to provide relief to domestic consumers, who will not have to pay for their 'lifeline consumption'. A person in the rural area requires 40 litres of water for his basic needs daily, while in urban areas, a person requires about 100 litres per day. Domestic consumers will no longer have to pay for that. Water use over that limit is a luxury and consumers will have to pay as per existing charges," said a senior PHED official.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's populist move is seen as an attempt to reach out to masses ahead of the forthcoming LS polls. As per estimates, a rural population of about 2.8 crore will directly benefit from this decision.
Making the announcement in Jodhpur, Gehlot said it would also come as a major relief for 56 lakh people living in urban areas.
On Friday, PHED officials issued directives to repair water meters which have been defunct for the past two years. In Jaipur alone, 2.5 lakh water meters are not functioning. Sources confirmed that these would be repaired so that consumers can benefit from the latest decision.
The move is expected to benefit about 3.36 crore domestic consumers and add an additional burden of Rs 161 crore on the bleeding exchequer. The revised tariff structure will come into effect on April 1.
The state government has also cancelled existing water slabs for all these consumers. Urban consumers will no longer have to pay sewerage and development charges along with other surcharges, and the current flat rate billing system for urban consumers has also been scrapped.
"The decision has been taken to provide relief to domestic consumers, who will not have to pay for their 'lifeline consumption'. A person in the rural area requires 40 litres of water for his basic needs daily, while in urban areas, a person requires about 100 litres per day. Domestic consumers will no longer have to pay for that. Water use over that limit is a luxury and consumers will have to pay as per existing charges," said a senior PHED official.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's populist move is seen as an attempt to reach out to masses ahead of the forthcoming LS polls. As per estimates, a rural population of about 2.8 crore will directly benefit from this decision.
Making the announcement in Jodhpur, Gehlot said it would also come as a major relief for 56 lakh people living in urban areas.
On Friday, PHED officials issued directives to repair water meters which have been defunct for the past two years. In Jaipur alone, 2.5 lakh water meters are not functioning. Sources confirmed that these would be repaired so that consumers can benefit from the latest decision.
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