Providing relief to residents of Panchkula, Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) has initiated the process of reimbursing the surplus amount added to their recent water bills. As per sources, numerous residents have now received bills with zero or even ‘minus’ amounts after necessary adjustments. Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran was formerly recognized as Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA).
In 2018, HUDA had decided to increase water charges by 5% every year, but due to Covid lockdown between 2019 and 2022, it did not increase the amount. But in April 2023, HUDA released water bills by adding 25% charge of the last four years. In the process, it earned around Rs 18 crore from city residents in 2023.
City residents, through their respective welfare associations, had protested the sudden hike in water charge, and also met and handed over a memorandum to Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta. Gupta took serious note of the issue and raised the issue with chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, after which they announced to roll back the extra charges. Later, the CM also directed HUDA officials to refund the extra 25% amount in the bills.
HUDA officials informed that after directions from the CM, they had started adjusting the 25% hike charged from residents for water bills issued this month, after which residents in several sectors received zero or minus bills. “HSVP is now charging Rs 10.50 per kilo litre, instead of the hiked amount of Rs 12.76 per kilo litre.
S K Nayyar, President of the Citizen Welfare Association, expressed that residents and their associations appreciate the initiative to modify water charges in the recent bills. Previously, the CWA had organized a meeting to request a reversal of the charges and had also held discussions with the Chief Administrator and Chief Engineer regarding the matter.
Seven years ago, preceding the state assembly election, the Gujarat government granted an exemption on toll tax for passenger four-wheelers on the SP Ring Road, resulting in financial losses for Auda. In October 2017, the state government extended the toll tax exemption to passenger vehicles, prompting ARRIL to seek compensation.
