Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, July 7

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic and ahead of the Assembly elections, a number of owners of properties above 125 sq yards are feeling the pinch as they have to pay the hiked water and sewer charges. Now, bills of six-month period are being generated with an increased tariff while the civic body had issued yearly bills last year.

After the hike, the water supply and sewerage bill amount for six months is Rs 2,100 for 126-250 sq yard houses, Rs 2,700 for 251-500 sq yards and Rs 3,600 for residential properties above 500 sq yards. After ending the exemption, the Municipal Corporation (MC) had also fixed Rs 1,200 bill amount for 51-125 sq yard houses.

When leaders of different political parties raised the issue of houses up to 125 sq yards, Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu recently announced to restore the exemption of houses up to 125 sq yards from levy of water supply and sewerage charges but there is no relief for the properties above 125 sq yards from the hiked charges.

A city resident said: “My house is in the category of above 125 sq yards. My annual bill was around Rs 2,400 last year but now, I will have to pay Rs 4,200 yearly. When I checked the MC website, it shows that my water supply and sewerage bill amount is Rs 1,890 (after 10 per cent rebate) for six months, up to September 30, 2021. The MC has hiked the charges very much at this time of crisis, instead of announcing any relief. It would be better if water meters are installed and charges be collected accordingly.”

In November 2020, the MC House had approved a resolution regarding a hike in the water and sewer tariff. Most of the councillors of opposition parties as well as the ruling Congress had remained mum on the resolution regarding the hike in user charges during the meeting.

AAP leader Keemti Rawal said: “The civic body should not charge any hiked water supply charges as people were already facing financial problems due to the pandemic. The hiked water supply and sewer charges should be revoked with immediate effect. Besides, the Mayor has announced to restore exemption for residential properties up to 125 sq yards. It is merely an announcement ahead of the Assembly elections. A resolution in this regard should be presented in the House meeting to restore the exemption in a real manner.”

An official said they had not received any written document to restore the exemption of residential properties up to 125 sq yards from levy of water supply and sewerage charges. Bills for houses above 125 sq yards had been generated as per the hiked tariff.