City dwellers aggrieved as WASA hikes water tariff

City dwellers expressed their anger as Dhaka WASA hiked water tariff again in just 6 months. They said it is illogical as WASA cannot provide services properly.

Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) on Friday raised the water tariff, dealing a double blow to consumers.
 
It issued a notice hiking the water tariff for both residential and commercial users.
 
The price of per unit (1,000 litres) of water has been fixed at Tk 14.46 from the existing Tk 11.57, a rise by 24.97 percent, for residential users while Tk 40 from the current Tk 37.04, up by 9.94 percent, for commercial consumers.
 
The new rates will come into effect on April 1, the notice said.
 
The water tariff was last raised in July last year with effect from September 1 when the price of per unit of water was set at Tk 11.57 from Tk 11.02 for residential purposes while Tk 37.04 from 35.28 for commercial usage.
 
On Thursday, the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (Berc) raised the power tariffs on a weighted average by 5.3 percent and 8.4 percent at the retail and wholesale levels.
 
The new tariff will come into effect on March 1, said newly-appointed Berc Chairman Md Abdul Jalil while announcing the decision.
 
The retail power tariff was increased from Tk 6.77 to Tk 7.13 per unit (each kilowatt-hour) at the retail level and Tk 4.77 to Tk 5.17 at the wholesale level.
 
The Berc also raised the wheeling charge in power transmission by a weighted average of 5.3 percent to Tk 0.29 per kilowatt hour to Tk 0.27.
 
The retail price is applicable for common consumers while the bulk one for power distribution companies.

Rahat Saiful of Gendaria said WASA should increase its services before hiking tariff. It is illogical to hike tariff of polluted water.

House owner of Kafrul area Jahangir Hossain said we have yet been adjusted with tariff hike six months ago, but the government hiked water tariff again. WASA should be attentive to increase quality of water before hiking price.

Dhaka/Nur/AKA