The Federation of Noida RWAs (FONRWA) and Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Association (NOFAA) are opposing Noida Authority’s recent proposal to hike water tariffs in the city. FONRWA has also appealed to residents to stop paying water bills if a hike does take place.
Noida Authority recently announced that it planned to hike water tariffs from the next financial year. It also announced that it would collect sewage charges from residents on the lines of what the Delhi government does.
The minimum charge of water in residential areas is Rs 6 per kilolitre and the maximum Rs 7.5 per kilolitre.
NP Singh, president of FONRWA, told City Spidey that Noida Authority could not compare itself to Delhi as a justification to hike its water tariffs. “In Delhi, the first 20,000 kilolitres of water is supplied free to residents, after which the tariffs are applicable. Also, Delhi is supplied treated water, whereas in Noida the water supplied to residents is untreated and inferior in quality. Delhi water is potable, but Noida water is unfit even for washing and bathing. SO on what basis can they equate the water tariffs of the two cities?” Singh said.
Singh also said that on September 9, 2000, the Supreme Court and the chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh had directed Noida Authority to construct a water treatment plant in Gautam Budh Nagar within two years. But even after 17 years, there has been no action on the order. “Noida Authority must also instal a water meter in every house and then fix the charge of water as per the size of the house,” Singh said.
Rajiva Singh, president of NOFAA, said that the Authority should first concentrate on improving the quality of water supplied to high-rises and also ensure it is enough to meet the demand of residents. Right now, he said, both quality and quantity of water were woefully low. “We will not have to instal RO systems in the house and not buy water bottles for daily use,” he said. “We have even written to Noida Authority CEO Alok Tandon about this,” Singh said.
