WATER WOES: Different Areas, Different Prices: Double tyranny for denizens
| Date :26-Apr-2024 |
By Naman Atolia
The citizens of Bhopal are currently facing a water crisis in several areas. Amid these, lack of regulation in water prices has made the situations worse, proving it tough for the townsmen to beat the heat of the summers. In the name of water, private suppliers are extorting fancy prices and adding cherry to the cake of sorrows. The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has no such system which can put a check on the private water suppliers in the city. Notably, water tanker prices in the city have seen a surge in the season ranging from Rs 400 to 1,200 excluding the additional charges. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, a private water supplier from Bag Sevaniya said, “the price for water tanker is Rs 1,200 and will differ according to area with the minimum cost of Rs 400.
These are the prices for those who want to fill up the underground tanks of their homes and subsequently, the price will be increased by Rs 200 per floor for the tanks placed at the terrace at the houses.” When asked about the hike in the rates of water in summers, he bluntly told that the rates are constant throughout the year irrespective of any season. A resident of Lalita Nagar, Kolar, on the condition of anonymity mentioned, “In our area, water tankers can be availed at a maximum rate of Rs 500, though their rates increase in accordance with the seasons.” When the similar question was raised to a private water supplier from Ashoka Garden, he came up with an estimated price ranging between Rs 600 and 700 (He said that the actual rate will be decided after the destination for the discharge of water tank is confirmed).
This was also reiterated by another water supplier in the city whereas a supplier from Karond confirmed the price at Rs 400. Interestingly, a merchant from the old city accepted the surge in water prices and said, “all the credits for this price hike goes to the summer, even I have increased the prices by Rs 50.” A resident of Arera Colony also stated that the private water suppliers often increase the rates of water during the warmer days of the year citing the scarcity of the natural resource and the rise in demand. Not just limited to water tankers, this problem has even affected the prices of water campers in the city. When asked about the prices of water campers to a shopkeeper at Chetak Bridge, he came up with an whopping price of Rs 50 per can. After probing into the prices, it was revealed that the demanded price was exaggerated since the some consumers of these services mentioned that these campers usually worth Rs 30 (Nehru Nagar) or Rs 35 (Kasturba Nagar).
‘No system devised by the civic body’
Digging further into the matter, ‘The Hitavada’ also reached out to Additional Commissioner Nidhi Singh of BMC who redirected the English daily to Udit Garg, Superintending Engineer of the corporation. In the conversation, he mentioned that the corporation provides free tankers to the areas where the supply is halted sometimes due to some reasons and told that anyone can avail the facility of water tankers of BMC by paying Rs 500. When asked about the issue of overpriced water rates in the city and the actions taken by the corporation for their regulation, he emphasised that as of now, there is no such system devised by the civic body which controls or regulates the private water suppliers. Ironically, ‘The Hitavada’ also tried at the helpline number of the municipal body for availing the facility of water tankers but all the calls went unanswered. Also, it is noteworthy that the sum as mentioned by the engineer was even higher than the prices as asked by some private suppliers.