TRICHY: The Trichy corporation has updated its drinking water charges and underground drainage (UGD) user fees for households, now introducing costs based on the built-up area of residential properties. Monthly fees have risen by Rs20 to Rs40 per connection, causing concerns among residents who worry this might lead to increased monthly rents.
Previously, the standard rate for drinking water was Rs180 per month per connection. With new byelaws approved by the Trichy corporation council, starting April 1, households can expect to pay between Rs180 and Rs360 monthly per connection (for up to 16 KL of water), depending on property size. This marks a minimum increase of 11% and a maximum of 100% in domestic water charges, a revision that hasn’t occurred in five years.
Non-domestic and industrial water charges have also been adjusted. The byelaw states that user charges and supply connection deposits will increase by 10% every five years. Notably, the charges for properties with a plinth area of 600 square feet or less will remain the same, while those with a plinth area from 601 to 1,801 square feet will see an increment of Rs20 to Rs180 monthly per connection. K. Suresh, a CPI councillor, expressed concerns that the increase in water charges could be passed onto tenants, suggesting that it would have been preferable to adopt consumption-based charges instead of size-based ones.
Additionally, water supply via lorries will now cost Rs2,000 (for distances up to 5km) and Rs3,000 (for distances above 5km) per trip. The UGD user fee has increased from Rs60 to Rs100, with a maximum fee of Rs220 per month per connection, representing an over 60% hike. Moreover, the bylaw limits drinking water and UGD connections in apartments to one for every four flats.
The rise in user fees may deter residents in low-income areas from applying for UGD connections. “This revision was mandated by funding agencies for loan provision. They consider revenue from UGD and drinking water as vital for loans. Other urban local bodies have already adjusted their charges,” an official from the Trichy corporation stated. While the local body has approved the revised charges, the timeline for implementation remains undecided.
