By: Krishna Kisi

Kathmandu: Water tariff is not going to be increased immediately. Water tariff hike is not going to take effect immediately after the Water Tariff Fixation Commission rejected the tariff hike proposal of Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL). KUKL had presented a proposal to the commission two weeks ago to hike water tariff effective from December 16. The commission has suggested the KUKL to hike water tariff only after improving its service. Without commission’s approval, the KUKL cannot hike water tariff.

“Water tariff will not increase immediately. We will come to a conclusion only after detailed study of the proposal,” said Bal Krishna Man Singh, chairman of the commission told Annapurna Post. The commission had rejected several earlier proposals of tariff hike.
Ratna Sansar Shrestha, member of the commission said, “It will be appropriate to hike water tariff only after improving service. We cannot hike water tariff immediately.” According to the KUKL proposal, the consumers with private connections using a minimum of 10,000 litres of water will have to pay Rs 82.5 (including sewerage cost) and the consumers without meter connections, who have been paying Rs. 360 for using a minimum of 10,000 litres of water, will have to pay Rs. 470.

Source: Annapurna Post, December 15, 2008