Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (WASA) is increasing the price by 61 percent at the customer level. From March, per unit, (1000 liters) of water has been proposed to be Tk 29 for residential and Tk 59.70 for non-residential (industry and commerce). This is the highest water price hike proposal in a decade and a half from WASA. The company increases the water price by 5 percent every year. This proposal was made in the 79th meeting of the board on March 14 as Chattogram WASA does not have the jurisdiction to increase the price in one jump. If approved by the board, the request to increase the price will be sent to the Ministry of Local Government. After that, the ministry will issue a circulation.
Experts and leaders of consumer rights organizations said that WASA has no interest in reducing water wastage, irregularities, and corruption. WASA officials are repeatedly putting the burden of their irregularities on the customers by increasing the price of water. However, Chattogram WASA officials claim that the cost of water production has increased and the price of water has been proposed to be increased to repay foreign loans for various projects.
According to Chattogram WASA sources, the total number of WASA connections is 88 thousand 771. Among them, 82 thousand 642 are residential and 6 thousand 129 are non-resident. Now the price of water is Tk 18 per thousand liters for residential and Tk 37 for non-residential, which was fixed on September 1, 2022. 91 percent of the water consumption in the current connection is residential and 9 percent non-residential. According to this, the average selling price of water per thousand liters is Tk 19.71.
According to the information obtained from the cost statement of the Sheikh Hasina Water Treatment Plant (second stage) project, the cost of production of water per thousand liters is Tk 31.80 as a result of the increase in the cost of electricity, fuel oil, salary and allowances and various development projects’ interest and principal, under the purview of Chattogram WASA. It can be seen that there is a deficit of Tk 12 per thousand liters. WASA officials agreed to propose to increase the current price of water by at least 61.34 percent to meet this shortfall.
Besides, according to the loan agreement for various development projects under the authority of Chattogram WASA, the total loan amount including interest and principal is Tk 3 thousand 558 crore 39 lakh, which has to be paid from the next financial year. Based on these reasons, from this March, per unit of water has been proposed to be Tk 29 for residents and Tk 59.70 for non-residents.
However, Kazi Shahidul Islam, commercial manager of Chattogram WASA, is unwilling to accept the increase in water prices. He said, the price is not being increased. It is proposed to adjust the current price to the production cost of water.
ZH
