Metered Water Connections from next year in J&K, fee hiked, to be charged on litre per day basis.

Water usage fee has been increased by 10% in J&K an order from The J&K Water Resources Regulatory Authority (J&KWRRA) confirms.

The order has revised water tariff for consumers in domestic as well commercial sections which has been in effect from April 2021.

The order reads “In terms of section 128 and in terms of section 145(2) of the J&K Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Act 2010, the Authority has decided to fix the water usage charges/tariff for different categories of water for the year 2021-22 effective from 01-04-2021. The order shall remain valid till 31-04-2022,”

Fixed water rates.

J&KWRRA has fixed a rate of Rs 12 for usage of 200-350 litres per day (LPD) for rural areas under domestic category. The rates will Rs. 20 for 350 LPD, 21 for 700 LPD Rs 23 for beyond 700 LPD in towns and cities.

For households in urban areas, water tariff of Rs 1500 and Rs 2850 half yearly has been fixed for connection size of ½ and 1/3 inches respectively. The user charges have been increased by Rs 300 per year in this category.

As per the order, in the domestic connection category, the tariff for consumers with a connection size of ½ inch in rural areas is fixed at Rs 500 per six months; Rs 800 per half-year has been fixed for a connection size of ¾ inch.

In the commercial category, water tariff of Rs 5000 per half-year has been fixed by the authority for connection size ½ inches.

The water tariff for connection size ¾, 1, and beyond 1 inch has been fixed at Rs 15400, Rs 46220, and Rs 77000 respectively per half-year.

The J&KWRRA, which is the authorized body to revise the user charges, has also rationalized the category of connections.

As per the order, the domestic includes all residential premises, government health, and educational institutes along with organization and institutions like orphanages, old-age homes which are not for private gains.

Domestic-cum -Semi Commercial category includes residential premises where commercial use co-exists like shops, barber shops, tea stalls and others.

Public posts include hand pumps installed for general public use.

Commercial includes consumers not covered in domestic and semi-domestic cum commercial categories.

Institutions include government offices, libraries, private educational institutions, corporations, autonomous bodies etc.

Industrial units include bulk water consuming units like pharmaceutical, brick kilns, tiles and others.

(Inputs various news agencies)