Mysore/Mysuru: Former Mayor Shivakumar has expressed his concerns over the increasing drinking water and UDG maintenance tariffs demanding the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) to come out with a white paper with regard to existing collection of drinking water and UGD maintenance taxes in each  Assembly Constituency. 

Addressing the media persons at a private hotel in city on Saturday, Shivakumar said, “The MCC should inform the public regarding the collection of drinking water and UGD maintenance taxes before implementing the proposed 30 percent hike in drinking water tariff and 10 percent hike in UGD maintenance tariff.”

Stating that officials taking such decisions in absence of Corporators were condemnable, Shivakumar said that the decision to increase drinking water and UGD maintenance taxes from Apr. 1 would add to existing burden of the people.

“According to Karnataka Urban Development Rules, there is provision to revise the drinking water tariff once in every three years. However, MCC Commissioner Shaikh Tanveer Asif has stated that the tariff has been increased after 14 years.”

“People have been already burdened with the increase of petrol, diesel, CNG, PNG and the other petroleum products prices owing to the ongoing US, Israel and Iran war. They are also finding it difficult to procure LPG cylinders. The State Government, which is facing a financial bankruptcy through its Guarantee Schemes has already increased the electricity tariff and prices of milk and other essential commodities. In such situation, the increase of drinking water and UGD maintenance tariffs has only added to existing woes of the general public,”   he added.

Shivakumar further said that the monthly minimum tariff has been increased from Rs. 123 to Rs. 163 and Rs. 6.50 per 1,000 litres for consumption up to 25,000 litres, Rs. 10 per 1,000 litres for 25,001 to 50,000 litres, Rs. 15 per 1,000 litres for 50,001 to 75,000 litres, Rs. 20 per 1,000 litres for 75,001 to 1 lakh litres and Rs. 25 per 1,000 litres for consumption above 1 lakh litres, the revision of which is not acceptable under current situation.

Demanding for a relook into proposed hike in drinking water taxes, Shivakumar said, “The MCC Commissioner has not announced regarding the expenditure of additional funds that would be collected. Presently, there are no action plans for city’s development. Along with this, the MCC withdrew the permission to construct a tonga stand in front of Town Hall and also the tax levied on two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four wheelers which highlights administrative failure in MCC.”