The Noida authority has compounded the problems of the city's residents. After a hike in the water charges, the residents are set to be hit with new sewer charges too.
Sewer charges set to be levied in Noida
Noida has always ranked among the most modern and expensive cities of the country. The Noida authority which had already hiked water tariff, is now all set to levy sewer charges too. This in turn will increase the expenses for the residents of the city.
Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Association (FONRWA) criticised the water tariff hike and said that the authority should increase the quality of water being supplied to residential colonies. FONRWA members are all set to meet officials of Noida authority and showcase their opposition to the hike.
The Noida authority has hiked the water charges in the city up to 25 percent. Further, it has also announced that meters will be fixed to plots with an area above 1000 square meters. Water meters are not fixed anywhere in the whole NCR region. This would lead to an increase in maintenance charges for people residing in high rise societies.
If that was not enough, the authority is now planning to levy sewer charges in Noida on the lines of same charge being levied in Delhi. As far as Delhi is concerned, the city charges 7 percent sewerage development charge from its residents. However, if the same system is applied here, then it will lead to huge hike in expenses for common residents.
While criticising the hike in water charges, N.P. Singh, President of Federation of Noida Residents Welfare Association (FONRWA), has alleged that the water being supplied by Noida authority is of very poor quality. As a result, citizens are forced to buy drinking water. He further said that the authority should increase the tariff only after improving the quality of water.
Singh said that the FONRWA would oppose the Noida authority’s plan to levy sewer charges in the city on the lines of those in Delhi. He also added that the authority should first waive off water charges on the lines of Delhi before following Delhi’s example as far as levying charges are concerned.
Noida authority’s chief project official, S.C. Arora has defended the water tariff hike as a normal procedure. He claimed that the rates have been increased by 10 to 25 percent as always. As far as levying sewer charges matter, Arora said, these will not be levied in the ongoing year. However, he said that in order to increase the authority’s income and fulfill its needs, sewer charges and other charges can be levied in the future.
