In a move aimed at alleviating the burden on residents, the UT Administration of Chandigarh has taken a significant step by reducing the sewerage cess on water. As per the recent announcement, the sewerage cess will be lowered from 30% to 25% for the remainder of the financial year 2023-24. Furthermore, this reduction is set to continue, with the cess being further brought down to 20% from the commencement of the next financial year. This decision comes after a series of developments that unfolded over the past years. After a lot of deliberations, this positive decision was taken under the chairmanship of Nitin Kumar, the UT home and local government secretary. This reduction in the sewerage cess is expected to provide some much-needed financial breathing space, offering relief to households and businesses alike. It is hoped that this decision will also encourage responsible water usage and prompt discussions on sustainable approaches to managing water resources.
In June 2019, the imposition of a 30% sewerage cess on water received criticism from the public and Opposition parties due to its heavy impact on residents. In response to these concerns, the MC General House met in March to address the issue. During the meeting, a proposal to lower the cess to 10% was discussed and gained unanimous support. The proposal was then sent to Shri Nitin Kumar Yadav for final approval.
Considering the people’s concerns and the need for financial relief, Nitin Yadav reviewed the proposal and exercised his powers under the Punjab Municipal Corporation Act to approve the reduction. The sewerage cess will now be 25% for the rest of the current financial year, and subsequently, it will be further reduced to 20% from April 1, 2024.
Mayor Anup Gupta applauded the decision, acknowledging that it will offer much-needed relief to Chandigarh’s residents. He also expressed the Municipal Corporation’s commitment to explore additional possibilities to further reduce the cess in the future, alleviating the financial burden on citizens even more.
This reduction in the sewerage cess comes as a welcome measure, especially considering the challenges posed by the previous water tariff hike in 2022. The substantial increase of up to 150% in water tariffs and the plan to continue raising them annually by 5% raised widespread concerns over rising utility costs.
In conclusion, the approval of Nitin Yadav marks a significant step towards providing financial relief to Chandigarh’s residents. Lowering the sewerage cess from 30% to 25% for the remainder of FY 2023-24, and further to 20% from the next financial year, demonstrates responsive governance and prudent financial management on the part of the local government. The decision aims to support the citizens and foster sustainable water management practices in the city.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kamlesh Bhattacharya
Kamlesh Bhattacharya is a senior correspondent who covers general news on Chandigarh city. He also writes on the tourism sector, focusing on the northern region. He is fond of reading and cricket.
