Ggn denizens will have to cough up more for drinking water

The Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) is all set to implement the hiked rates for supply of drinking water in Gurugram from June 1.

Earlier for consumption of 31 kilolitres (kl) of water, the customers were charged at Rs 4 per kl. With an increase of Rs 6 per kl, the residents will now have to pay Rs 10 per kl for consumption of more than 20,000 kl of drinking water.

The rates have been increased by HUDA after a gap of 16 years.

Citing the rise in expenses due to increase in electricity, labour and other raw material charges, the officials of HUDA have justified the increase in rates for supply of drinking water.

HUDA officials maintain that not increasing the rates for a long time resulted in losses to the public body.

Over 70,000 households in the city are expected to pay for the new rates.

For industrial units, a charge of Rs 10 will be charged per kilolitre and for commercial connections, the rate has been fixed at Rs 15 per kilolitre.

HUDA has also increased the rates of water connection. Earlier for residential customers, the rates have been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. In group housing societies, the rates have been fixed at Rs 500.

There has been a mixed response over the HUDA increasing the rates of water supply. While certain resident bodies have welcomed the decision, some of them have been critical of the move.