Mangaluru: Corporators, cutting across party lines, approved the new drinking water tariff, which was revised, keeping the consumers’ interest in mind, and to supply water on a ‘no-loss and no-profit’ basis.
“If the revised water tariff is approved by the government, Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) will be able to supply upto 20,000 litres of water for a tariff of Rs 5 per 1,000 litres,” MCC Mayor Premananda Shetty said on Tuesday.
The mayor informed the gathering at the Council Hall in the MCC building, that their successive meetings with Urban Development Secretary in Bengaluru had yielded results, with the latter agreeing to MCC’s proposal on distributing water on a ‘no-loss and no-profit’ basis.
On June 15, 2019, the drinking water tariff was revised when the MCC was under the district administration’s control.
Accordingly, in the first slab (from 0 L to 8,000 L), the tariff was Rs 7 per 1,000 litres. In the second slab (from 8,000 L to 15,000 L), the tariff was Rs 9 per 1,000 litres. In the third slab (from 15,000 L to 25,000 L), the tariff was Rs 11 per 1,000 litres and Rs 13 per 1,000 litres for all consumers whose consumption crosses 25,000 litres per month.
In the resolution adopted by the MCC in 2020, the minimum charge was fixed at Rs 60 for the consumption of 10,000 litres per month. In the second slab (from 10,000 L to 15,000 L), the tariff will be Rs 7 per 1,000 litres. In the third slab (from 15,000 L to 25,000 L), the tariff will be Rs 9 per 1,000 L. In the fourth slab (from 25,000 L to 30,000 L), the tariff will be Rs 11 per 1,000 L and Rs 13 for all consumers whose consumption crosses 30,000 litres per month.
‘DPR by next month’
Congress corporators also lashed out at the poor management of solid waste.
Praveen Chandra Alva charged that only 25% of 98 vehicles were being operated by Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited.
Naveen D’Souza lamented that sanitary inspectors were unaware of their responsibilities.
Corporators also complained that due to a lack of maintenance, sewage was flowing from many clogged manholes.
The mayor informed them that Mangala Resource Management’s detailed project report (DPR) will be approved next month.
Premananda Shetty said that due to the digitization of renewing trade licences, MCC’s revenue had increased from Rs 6 crore to Rs 14 crore.
He also promised that the system of paying property tax will be made consumer-friendly.
Earlier, Premananda Shetty clarified that he was permitted to continue as mayor until his successor is elected.
MCC Commissioner Akshy Sridhar and Deputy Mayor Sumangala Rao were also present at the meeting.