Water metres to be introduced in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: The state government will introduce water metres in the city soon. Mayor Koneru Sridhar hinted the same to the council members about the government plans and indirectly invited the opinions from them at the budget discussion of council here on Friday. As per plans, the corporation would fix metres at every doorstep following the directions of the government.

The citizens should pay water tax for their water usage. The automatic electronic machines would count water usage quantity of every household later the bills would be distributed to them directly.

The water charges and mode of payment are yet to be finalised. Recently, the higher officials of VMC and the Mayor discussed the plans with people's representatives and officials of Shimla city during their visit to the city, which had already introduced the water metres in their city , to know their experience.

Actually, the proposal has been pending with the local body for the past several years. But it was not materialised when the Left parties opposed the issue when they had majority in the council. Now, the VMC is contemplating to introduce water metres. According to officials and the Mayor, the people would get water systematically after the introduction of metres.

As per VMC analysis, presently corporation is supplying 170 litres per citizen per day in the city though a person needs an average of 130 litres of water even the people are facing scarcity for water across the city. The corporation water supply department found fault with the some of the citizens who were wasting the water.

The public taps and household water connections are not being turned off after completion of their water using requirement, said Mayor Koneru Sridhar.  He said the water charges in Shimla city is Rs 300 from each connection and Rs 500 collected for new connections. He asked the members to give their opinions.

The government is keen to implement water metres system, he said and asserted that the corporation would abide by the council resolution in this regard. However, when the members did not express their opinions, the Mayor immediately started speaking on another subject while discussion was going on in the budget.  

By Patibandla Srinivas