Secunderabad Cantonment Board is preparing to hike the water tariff here from the present Rs 6 per KL to Rs 13.50 per KL from 2013.
SCB superintendent (water section) Raj Kumar confirmed such a hike has been proposed. It would be placed before the elected body of ward members and defence officials in the Board meeting shortly.
The Cantonment residents are already reeling under abject water shortage. Most areas within the SCB limits get low-pressure water only once in three days, that too for only an hour.
In the present tariff structure, a household pays Rs 145 monthly on an average to the Board for water. Once the hike is implemented, the water bill, along with service charges, will go up to Rs 290 per month.
The proposed water bill hike of above 100 per cent within SCB limits is more than what Greater Hydera-bad residents pay.
Here, the monthly average water tariff for domestic consumers under 15-KL category is Rs 212.50. The domestic water tariff in the city is Rs 10 per KL for colonies and Rs 7 per KL for the slums.
The proposed tariff will be uniform for colonies and slums within SCB limits.
Cantonment officials said the hike was imminent. “The Water Board supplies water to us, which we further supply to the residents. Water Board hiked the tariff from `6 per KL to Rs 13.50 KL from December 1, 2011.
Despite repeated letters and meetings with Water Board and municipal administration department officials, including the municipal minister, the tariff has not been reduced.
We had urged that the tariff be at least brought down to Rs 10 KL, but the Water Board refused to do so,” said an official.