By: Krishna Kisi

Kathmandu: The government has formed another high level commission after it was not satisfied with the water tariff hike rate recommended by the Water Supply Tariff Fixation Commission (WSTFC). The Water Tariff Review Commission is formed to review the recommended tariff structure after the WSTFC rejected the proposal of Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) of charging Rs. 55 for a minimum of 10,000 litres a month even for dry taps.

The WSTFC had recommended the government to fix the minimum volume of monthly water supply to 5000L at Rs. 27.50. But, the government formed a three member Water Tariff Review Commission in the chairmanship of former Attorney General Mr. Chetnath Ghimire as recommended by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works under the pressure from the KUKL to reverse the decision made by WSTFC disagreeing with its recommendation.
It is claimed that the KUKL made government to form the review commission for making tariff recommendation in its favour. The WSTFC chaired by Mr. Bal Krishna Man Singh still exists. The commission is dissatisfied after another commission was formed challenging the tariff recommendation made by the permanent commission. The WSTFC had been preventing sharp hike in water tariff since the last year despite pressure from the KUKL. It had advised the company to hike water tariff only after improving the water supply system and services. The WSTFC had already rejected KUKL’s proposal of water tariff hike.

Rameshwor Shrestha, spokesperson at the KUKL, told that the KUKL could not agree to the water tariff hike recommended by the WSTFC. “The tariff hike recommended by the WSTFC does not benefit KUKL,” said Shrestha, adding, “Therefore; we have applied for its review in the ministry.” The KUKL had demanded to charge Rs. 55 for a minimum monthly water supply of 10000L. The WSTFC had rejected the proposal of the KUKL to charge a minimum monthly tariff of Rs. 55 for consuming below 10,000L. The current minimum monthly tariff rate is Rs. 50 even for dry taps.
Ratna Sansar Shrestha, a member of WSTFC confirmed KUKL’s disagreement with the tariff recommendation made by the WSTFC. Narendra Pradhan, a member of the newly formed Water Tariff Review Commission told that the commission will come to a conclusion on the demand of KUKL and water tariff hike after studying the recommendations made by the WSTFC.

  
Source: Annapurna Post, November 17, 2009