New Delhi, Dec 1 (IANS) Water tariff in the national capital will be hiked sharply from January 2010, Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit announced Tuesday.
“New domestic water rates will come into effect from Jan 1. In the upto 10 kilolitres bracket, the existing rate of Rs.52 will become Rs.82. The 11-20 kilolitre slab which presently is for Rs.82 will become Rs.180,” Dikshit told reporters here.

The final slab of 21-30 kilolitres will be hiked by more than 150 percent.

“The existing tariff in this slab is Rs.187. This will be made Rs.470,” Dikshit said, adding that the tariff for water had not been increased for five years.

The reasons for the hike are the new pay commission’s recommendations for higher employee pay-scales as well as increased expenses on infrastructure like pipes.

The Delhi government will also lower the subsidy granted to the government supply agency Delhi Jal Board (DJB) but not “remove it completely”, Dikshit said.

The average middle class family in Delhi consumes about 20 kilolitre of water per month, the DJB estimates.

According to a recent Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report, while DJB purportedly supplies 3,336.9 million litres per day (MLD) - which is far lower than the demand - the actual amount reaching the end user is just 1,768.56 MLD.