The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has decided to levy a water infrastructure development charge on mid and large realty projects in the city, to be collected from developers, making it the first such fee to be introduced by the civic body to augment water supply in a neighbourhood where a housing or commercial project is being planned.
The proposal, already passed by KMC House, will be effective December 1. The levy will be imposed on all upcoming realty projects that exceed 2,000sq m (20,000sq ft) in size with the civic body charging Rs 100/ sq m (1,000 sq ft).
Civic officials said the need to boost water infrastructure in and around the city following construction of real-estate projects, particularly in areas like Joka and Eastern Metropolitan Bypass, led to the decision. “Besides, there are many redevelopments within the city where high-rises are coming up. As the city’s population density increases, so does the demand for potable water. We have to fund the requirement and hence the charge,” said a civic official.
According to a KMC water supply department official, the civic body has constructed over 20 capsule water booster pumping stations in areas where multiple large residential complexes have come up, but the residents are still suffering from water crisis due to the sharp rise in supply demand.