AHMEDABAD: After civic body elections’ dust settles, the AMC may be forced to dust off its water meter policy — as mandated by the conditions of a World Bank loan.
A few months ahead of the World Bank approving a Rs 3,000 crore loan for sprucing up Ahmedabad’s water distribution and wastewater management networks, a water meter based tariff policy was proposed last year. The AMC water department’s policy predicted revised rates for non-residential properties including schools, colleges, commercial establishments, and government offices.
A charge per 1,000 litres of water usage was proposed: Rs 10 for religious institutions, Rs 15 for government and semi-government educational institutions, and Rs 40 for commercial establishments other than private hospitals, schools, or educational institutions.
“One of the commitments we have given to the World Bank is to make water usage accountable by metering and charging citizens,” said a senior AMC official. “Right now, we collect a blanket water usage charge, which is part of the property tax bill, which comes to about Rs 183 crore for the entire city.”
The official added, “Of this, Rs 153 crore is collected from large institutions, schools, colleges, universities, commercial properties, and government offices.” It is time businesses pay water bill as per usage.
In the case of residential properties, the AMC does not plan to charge till a household’s water usage exceeds 22,500 litres in a month. The water tariff policy has been revised four times since 2012 and has been kept in abeyance by the elected standing committee of the AMC.
“We are at present legalizing illegal water connections by charging Rs 500 per connection, but we do not have any data on water usage of the city,” the official said. “The World Bank will now require us to meter the water supply. There are little chances of postponing water charges this time.”