A steep hike in water rates without any transparency has shocked consumers in Mysore resulting in protests and demonstrations demanding a rollback.

Water rates of both domestic and commercial consumption have been raised three-fold from May 1. The minimum charge of Rs 60 has gone up to Rs 175 from May 1. The MCC has however defended the steep rise by saying it had been raised throughout the state. Among those who opposed the hike was former minister and sitting N R constituency MLA Tanveer Sait (Congress).

Close on the heels of BEST bus fare hike, the BMC standing committee on Wednesday passed the proposed water tax, which would push up your water bill.
The BMC had been discussing the proposal to increase water tax for the past three years but could not impose the same as the civic elections were due.

New Delhi: After a delay of some years, the controversial groundwater Bill is finally ready to be presented to the Delhi cabinet. Government sources say the draft is likely to be tabled in the monsoon session of the Delhi assembly and, if passed, will make groundwater a chargeable asset in the capital. The cess on extraction will be decided at a later stage when the final points of the Bill will be prepared before it is turned into law.

New Delhi: In another attempt to allay fears that its public-private partnership projects are a precursor to privatization of the water utility, Delhi Jal Board has said it has sufficient water to ensure 24-hour supply for a large part of the city but is losing much of it through theft or leakages. The PPP model will first curtail these losses, ensure a round-the-clock supply and full domestic coverage in the project areas.

MUMBAI: The standing committee, which is yet to pass the budget proposal, is likely to make changes before passing it. While giving a go-ahead for the increase in water taxes as proposed, the standing committee has suggested that the civic body seek financial help from the state and Centre, specially for water projects.

It affects irrigation in the lower reaches of the command area

Rampant violation of cropping pattern, unauthorised irrigation in the command area of the Tungabhadra irrigation project, failure of Water Resources Department officials to levy penalty on farmers violating cropping pattern and on those from outside command area drawing water unauthorisedly are some of the issues highlighted in the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.

The Water Board and the Secunderabad Cantonment Board are accused of minting money by selling water through mobile tankers instead of supplying it by the pipeline network.

Citizens naturally wonder why, if water is available for thousands of trips made by tankers, it is not available though the pipeline distribution system.

Terming groundwater a common resource, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday advocated strong laws to regulate its extraction. He also favoured transparent and participatory pricing to prevent water misuse.

“Inadequate and sub-optimal pricing of power and water are promoting misuse of groundwater,” Dr Singh said, while inaugurating the three-day India Water Week, organised by the Ministry of Water Resources, here.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today called for a legislation to regulate extraction of groundwater by competing users and said inadequate pricing of both power and water were leading to the misuse of groundwater in the country. He backed mechanisms where primary stakeholders could be involved in the pricing of water.