The Trichy corporation has updated the fees for drinking water and the underground drainage (UGD) user fee imposed on households, introducing charges that are determined by the built-up area of residential properties.
The fees have risen by a minimum of Rs20 to Rs40 per connection each month. This decision to categorize and impose fees based on property size has not been well received by residents, who are concerned that it may lead to an increase in monthly rents.
Until now, residents have been paying a flat rate of Rs180 per month for drinking water charges per connection. Under the new water supply byelaws approved by the Trichy corporation council, starting April 1, they will be required to pay between Rs180 and Rs360 per month per connection (for up to 16 KL of water), depending on the floor area of their property. The revision, which has occurred after five years, has resulted in a minimum increase of 11% and a maximum increase of 100% in domestic water charges.
The charges for non-domestic and industrial drinking water have also been updated. According to the byelaw, the deposit for water supply service connections and the user charges for water will increase by 10% every five years. The water charge for residences with a plinth area of 600 square feet or less will remain the same.
However, for residential properties with a plinth area ranging from 601 to 1,801 square feet, the charges have risen by Rs20 to Rs180 per connection each month. “Homeowners may transfer the increase in water charges to their tenants, and tenants who pay these charges directly to the local authority will also be affected.
The introduction of water charges based on square footage could have been avoided; instead, a system based on consumption could have been implemented,” stated K Suresh, a councillor from the CPI.
The fees for delivering drinking water via lorries have been established at Rs2,000 for distances within 5km and Rs3,000 for distances exceeding 5km per trip. For underground drainage (UGD), the minimum user fee has been raised from Rs60 to Rs100, with a maximum fee of Rs220 per month for each connection. This represents an increase of over 60% in the UGD user fee. Additionally, the byelaws have restricted the number of drinking water and UGD connections in apartment complexes to one connection for every four flats.
The rise in user fees may pose challenges for officials attempting to persuade residents in low-income areas to apply for UGD connections. “This revision has been mandated by funding agencies to facilitate loans. They are taking into account the revenue generated from UGD and drinking water services as a factor in providing loans.
All other urban local bodies have already adjusted their charges,” said official sources from the Trichy corporation. Although the local body has approved the revised charges as a resolution, the timeline for implementation has yet to be determined.
