PANAJI
As the government’s much publicised free water scheme has come into effect from September 1, the Aam Aadmi Party said the scheme will be exposed the moment Goans get their hiked September bills as it turns out to be a jumla with prices hiked by almost double for the average Goenkar, according to a press note.
In the press note, the AAP states the government is unaware that an average Goan household consumes much more than 16K litres a month, and the free water scheme will only apply to those with functioning meters, while those with faulty or non-functional meters will have to pay the full amount upto 16K litres at a new rate of Rs 3.5 per unit as opposed to Rs 2.5 per unit.
The AAP in the press note further states, “As per news reports, PWD engineers state that a domestic household in Goa uses at least 1,000 litres of water, which is 30 m3 per month, and as such, 50 to 60 per cent of the consumers would come in the Rs 15/m3 bracket, which is the second highest slab. In essence where lower-end customers are saving just a small amount, the average Goenkar will be paying double. Domestic consumers will be worst hit as those consuming 16,001 ltrs that’s more than approximately 533 litres a day will now have to pay almost double their old bill amount.”
“The government has not studied anything before announcing this scheme. Instead it has announced rates that will lead to Goenkars paying much higher bills. This will add to the burden to Goenkars,” stated Pratima Coutinho in the press note.
The government is silent about how many litres the average Goenkar consumes, besides plans to fix faulty meters, plans to ensure piped water reaches every Goan house and how it will end the dependency on tankers and end dry taps that plague Goa especially in Rural Goa, adds the press note.
