AIADMK condemns hike in water charges

Chennai, Nov 18 (UNI) Condemning the Tamil Nadu government for hiking the water charges for city dwellers by 20 times, AIADMK General secretary J Jayalalithaa warned a massive agitation if the government did not roll back the hike.

In a statement issued here today, she said metro water has raised the water charges by 20 times, by fixing Rs 25 per litre of water and had sent notices to residents to pay Rs 3000 at the rate of Rs 1000 per month.

The department of metro water has warned the residents of disconnecting the water connections, if they failed to pay the money immediately, she said and demanded that the government withdraw the hike.

The rate was Rs 25 per month during her regime, she said adding, the increase in water charges would severely affect the poor and middle class people as they were already suffering because of high house rents and electricity tariff.

It was pitty that people were even scared of drinking water following the hike. If the metro water went ahead with its drive, people would be forced to do away with water connections for ground water. This would badly affect the water table in the city, she warned.

The government should fix the water charges at Rs 50 per month, she said. If the Metro water failed to roll back the hike, the AIADMK would organise a massive agitation with the support of the people, she said.

UNI WS AKM AE KN1817