Madras show the way

PAMPERED residents of metropolitan cities have so far paid only nominal charges for the water piped to their homes. However, this largesse is being partially corrected in Madras where the Madras Water Supply and Sewerage Board, commonly called Metrowater, has tripled the water charges with effect from April 1.

The minimum monthly rates for individual residential premises and flats will now be about Rs 30 in place of the earlier Rs 10, and have been quadrupled for commercial establishments to about Rs 250. Says Paul Appasamy of the Madras Institute of Development Studies, "The crucial issue is the availability of water. The public would not even mind paying more if Metrowater can ensure supply."

However, enforcing the hike could be a problem because the city's water meters are either nonexistent or nonfunctional. As the water supply is intermittent, the lines periodically dry up and get clogged with mud. Hence, metering the quantity of water supplied becomes a difficult proposition.

Metrowater officials say the hike -- estimated to generate a surplus of Rs 3 crore during the current year -- was primarily to meet the growing financial commitments engendered by 3 World Bank assisted projects to augment water availability in the city.