News
Major increase soon in water supply rates
View(s):- Subsidies for low-income groups, religious and educational institutions
An increase of about 50 per cent in the water supply rates has been proposed by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSD), General Manager Wasantha Illangasinghe said.
She said the increase would be implemented with minimal impact on low-income groups, those covered by social security benefits, educational and religious institutions and public water supplies.
The additional cost incurred by the Board including high electricity charges has been attributed to the proposed increase.
“The NWSD is the largest consumer of electricity. Half a billion rupees is paid every month to the Electricity Board to sustain safe water supplies. Therefore, a heightened electricity tariff along with payments made for capital investment are the main reasons for the increasing water supply rates,” Dr. Illangasinghe said.
“Another reason is financial viability and the sustainability assurance of the NWSD in view of securing the objectives of broadening access to safe water and sanitation, upgrading the quality of service and providing sustainable water resource enactment,” she said.
Moreover, there was a further increase in price of pumping costs and chemicals used for the purification process, while the wastage of water had made the situation worse, she said.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times learns that local councils and other public institutions had huge unpaid bills and this also had made it necessary to increase the price of the water supply.
Dr. Illangasinghe said the NWSD had been making plans for a revision since October last year, as electricity rates were increased.
She said the proposal of the increase had been submitted to the Finance Ministry in March and therefore the NWSD had suffered heavy losses. It expected the new rates to be gazetted soon.
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