Kathmandu: Water Supply Tariff Fixation Commission (WSTFC) has once again corresponded to the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) regarding the tariff hike. The meeting of WSTFC on October 16 has decided to fine KUKL and directed the water supply utility to return extra tariff charged illegally from the consumers.

Earlier, on May 15, the WSTFC had rejected the KUKL's proposal of water tariff hike. Following the rejection, the KUKL had requested the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works for reviewing the decision of WSTFC.
Considering the demand of the KUKL, the government has constituted a ‘Review Committee’ to give final verdict on the tariff rate. “The committee constituted just before Tihar festival has not started its work yet,” said Narendra Man Pradhan, member of the committee and former vice director general of KUKL, adding, “We will submit the conclusion to the government after getting all the information about water tariff hike.”
Meanwhile, the WSTFC has expressed objection to the tariff hike in tanker supplied water at the time when there is dispute on tariff hike in piped supplied water. Stating that it is illegal to collect service charge in tanker supply against the Water Supply Tariff Fixation Commission Act-2063, the WSTFC has decided to fine Rs. 5001 from KUKL. According to WSTFC, KUKL is charging 29 to 35 percent more tariff in the tanker supplied water.
The WSTFC has directed the KUKL to submit the list of the consumers who were supplied tanker water upon paying extra tariff till October 27. Similarly, the meeting decided to correspond about the illegal tariff collection by the company to the concerned organizations that have sent nominees in the executive committee of KUKL not to repeat this in the future.
“This decision must have been taken before Tihar. We are not clear on the issue yet,” said Rameshwor Man Shrestha, spokesperson of KUKL

Source: Nagarik, October 21, 2009