By: Baburam Khadka

Kathmandu: Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) is going to increase water tariff from December 16. Water Tariff Fixation committee has approved the proposed increase in water tariff by KUKL and will be implemented from December 16, 2008. Consumers of Kathmandu Valley using community taps will have to pay higher price according to the new tariff structure. The community tap users will have to pay at least Rs. 205.80 and the consumers with private connections will have to pay a minimum of Rs. 82.50 as water tariff.

Water tariff for unmetered connections is increased by 46 percent. Water tariff is increased from Rs. 360 to Rs. 470 per month. KUKL is increasing water tariff as per the condition of the Asian Development Bank, chief donor of the Melamchi Water Supply Project. ADB had put water tariff increment as a precondition to finance the project.
Federation of Drinking Water and Sanitation Users Nepal (FEDWASUN) accused that water tariff is going to be increased without any improvement in service.  It also stated that KUKL failed to issue 35 days public notice prior to increase water tariff. FEDWASUN stated that there has not been any improvement in existing water supply but the number of connections in the Kathmandu Valley has increased from 134,291 in 2004 to 154,385 in 2008. Similarly, KUKL has not been able to control 40 percent leakage in current distribution system.

Source: Nepal Samacharpatra; Rajdhani, December 12, 2008