No need to raise tariffs: Delhi Jal Board

New Delhi, Mar 22 (UNI) Delhi Jal Board CEO Arun Mathur today said the Board did not intend to raise the water tariff in the capital.

''There is no need to raise to water tariff. Water tariff rates were hiked only last year,'' Mr Mathur said, refuting recent media reports about a possible increase in tariffs.

Speaking at a function, on the occasion of World Water day, to launch a new magazine 'Water and You', Mr Mathur said, ''while reaching a decision to raise tariffs we have to take into confidence all cross sections of society.'' Mr Mathur ruling out a hike in tariffs come a few days after Delhi Chief Minister refuted reports of such a hike.

In fact, water experts say that water tariff rates charged by the Delhi Jal Board are already among the highest in the country. So, the question of it raising the same did not arise.

Meanwhile, the World Water Alliance, an NGO, has asked for clarification from the DJB on the formation of a committee, constituted under the chairmanship of Director (F&A) and Project Director of World Bank, Ashish Kundra, to monitor and study the functioning of all the Water treatment plants in the capital.

Alleging that the formation of the committee was a step towards privatisation and outsourcing of water services, the NGO said, ''as citizens of free society, everyone has a right to our water and to decisions on how water will be used and managed. Water Workers Alliance will resist the privatisation and "out sourcing" of water services and commodification of water. Our society have the capacity, and the right to provide water, without getting trapped in World Bank's conditionalities and policies.'' UNI AR SC BST1812