In a latest development, it has come to light that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is likely to increase water tax this year, which has been stalled for the last years owing to COVID-19 induced pandemic.
For this, the civic body is taking a review of expenditure for providing water, thereafter, the exact percentage will be decided.
However, if reports are to be believed, there is likely to be a six to seven per cent increase this year.
An official stated that within two-three days the hydraulic department will come to a conclusion on the amount but one thing is sure the tax will increase this year.
Explaining further official stated that they consider expenditure on water cleaning and make it potable along with the expenditure of laying the pipeline and its repairs.
After finalising the amount, they will prepare a proposal which will be forwarded to the administrator and after approval from him, a new tax structure will be implemented. This entire process will take at least one month, official added.
Experts stated that the water tax increase will hit the manufacturing and construction industries.
On the other hand, even before the proposal, Ravi Raja, former Congress corporator and Opposition leader in BMC has opposed this hike. Taking it Twitter, he wrote, "There are talks of a likely hike in water tax by BMC administration. We INC Mumbai won't allow this to happen. Mumbaikars are already stressed due to heavy inflation and you can't burden them with more taxes on basic necessities like water. I also wonder who gives such suggestions?
There are talks of likely hike in water tax by BMC administration.We @INCMumbai won't allow this to happen. Mumbaikars are already in stress due to heavy inflation and you can't burden them with more taxes on basic necessity like water. I also wonder who gives such suggestions?
— Ravi Raja INC (@ravirajaINC) June 6, 2022
For those unversed, the BMC charges INR 6 per thousand litres for domestic use and INR 50 for the industries and construction business.
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