By: Krishna Kisi

Kathmandu: Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) is to hike water tariff by 30 percent in the Kathmandu Valley from Mid-December as per the recommendation of Water Tariff Review Commission. Before taking ownership from Nepal Water Supply Corporation, KUKL had agreed to supply water to all its consumers for at least one hour a day. At present, water hardly gushes out from most of the taps once a week. Earlier, the Nepal Water Supply Corporation had hiked water tariff in 2004.

According to the new tariff rate, the KUKL is to charge a monthly tariff of Rs. 55 for a minimum water supply of 10000L. The current minimum monthly tariff rate is Rs. 50 even for dry taps. Similarly, the KUKL is charging a monthly tariff of Rs. 70,590 for a maximum water supply of 18,10,000L. The current maximum monthly tariff rate is Rs. 54,300 for consuming the same volume of water. 50 percent tariff added as the sewerage charge in the existing water tariff remains the same.
Rudra Gautam, Managing Director at the KUKL informed that the hiked water tariff will come into effect from Mid-December. 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. 432. Similarly, the consumers without meter connections, who have been paying Rs. 130,320 for using a maximum of 18,10,000 litres of water in a month, will have to pay Rs. 169,416.
Rameshwor Shrestha, spokesperson at the KUKL informed that the water tariff will be hiked according to recommendation of the Water Tariff Review Commission.

Source: Annapurna Post, November 24, 2009