Chandigarh: 110 objections to costlier water, ‘24x7 supply first’

CHANDIGARH: Miffed with the municipal corporation for increasing water tariff by more than double, residents have filed 110 objections, calling it unjustified in the absence of 24x7 supply.
Of these objections, 100 are on a single paper, signed by people from the housing societies of southern sectors 49 to 51. The MC will put these before the municipal commissioner and the home secretary of the local government for their comments before a final notification. “The officers’ comments will be meant to satisfy the objections,” a source in the civic body said. The MC will comment first and then the home secretary.
The civic body had given the general public 15 days to submit objections and suggestions on the issue of water tariff increase that has the consent of the UT administrator. Sources in the MC said the chances of complete rollback of the hike were negligible but there might be minor chances based on the stakeholders’ views. Since the authority increased the tariff after almost 10 years, it backs its decision firmly.
A senior MC official dealing with the case said: “The hike was a unanimous decision of the general house, biggest body of the MC, so the question of complete reversal doesn’t arise.”