Chattogram WASA has increased the price of water twice in a span of six months. Customers of deep tube wells will now have to pay the water bill fixed by WASA.
Chattogram WASA has brought forward the issue of connecting digital meters to tube wells of deep tube wells along with discouraging underground water consumption on pricing.
From January of the new year, building owners installing deep tube wells under this approval will have to pay the bill for the water drawn. Chattogram WASA has brought forward the issue of connecting digital meters to tube wells of deep tube wells along with discouraging underground water consumption on pricing. However, the Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) has claimed that these arguments are against consumer interest.
Currently CWASA has 71 thousand 992 residential and 5 thousand 273 commercial customers. Against these consumers there is a daily demand of 50 kilo litters of water. The company is refining 45 crore litres.
Its mentioned that in the 71st board meeting of Chattogram WASA held last Wednesday, a decision was taken on the bill of the customers who draw water through deep tube wells. According to the decision of the meeting, residential sector customers will have to pay Tk 6 per meter and non-residential sector will have to pay Tk 12.34.
Many customers are still out of water connection provided by WASA. Among these areas, severe water shortage is prevailing in some areas of South Khulshi, Firozshah, Kaibalyadham and Halishahar. Many customers are not getting water with monthly bills. Many customers install deep tube wells with approval from WASA. Besides, deep tube wells have to be licensed every year.
At present, the cost of water per unit (1000 litres) is Tk 18 per unit at consumer level and Tk 37.02 at commercial level.
According to WASA data, there are 4 thousand 300 approved deep tube wells of Chattogram WASA in the city. WASA said the decision was taken under the authority of the Water Supply and Drainage Authority Act 1996. These customers have to pay water bills with effect from January.
Chattogram WASA Managing Director Engineer AKM Fazlullah said that in the past customers did not have to pay water bills by using deep tube wells. Many people have been using both deep tube well and WASA water. However, due to lack of meters in tube wells using deep tube wells, accurate calculations were not available. It was decided to purchase new meters in the WASA board meeting.
Meter will be purchased. Meters will be installed along with the tube wells, according to which the bill consumers will have to pay the bill. Considering the overall aspect, this decision is going to be effective from January next year. Initially it will be launched in a short range, later it will be extended.
