Poor to be spared increase in water prices: Govt

New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) The Government today said it was not planning to increase water prices for the poor and has sanctioned 44 water supply projects in the country at the cost of Rs 3,832 crore as part of JNNURM.

Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy said the Government was only planning to charge more money for water from affluent sections of society.

''We cannot have uniform pricing policy for all the people...

I assure the House that poor people will not be charged more money.

Since the rich can pay more and use more water we have asked state bodies to charge them towards maintenance,'' he added.

He said the objective of the scheme was to provide continous water supply in areas covered by such projects.

The cities where the project have been sanctioned include Surat, Hyderabad and Srinagar.

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