Getting a new water connection in Cantonment limits will soon be much costlier. Officials have proposed a higher-than-100 per cent hike in the deposit amount for obtaining new water connections.
The proposed increase in deposit amounts for new connections is likely to attract a severe backlash from citizens, particularly flat owners.
The deposit amount for a one-inch water connection to apartment buildings is proposed to be increased from the existing Rs 5,000 per flat (minimum 10 flats will be taken into account) to Rs 9,000 per flat (minimum of 10 flats will be taken into account).
Likewise, for houses seeking a half-inch sized water connection, the deposit amount is being hiked from the present Rs 4,000 plus six-month minimum charges to Rs 8,500 six-month minimum charges.
The proposed hike in water connection charges have to be approved at the Board meeting of the Cantonment.
Though there is also a proposal to increase “regularisation charges” to regularise the illegal water connections from the present Rs 10,000 to Rs 18,000 per connection, the Cantonment Board president Sunil S. Bodhe has expressed apprehension that the regularisation process may encourage more illegal connections.