Prices of water supplied by Rajshahi Water and Sewerage Authorities have been increased three-times than the previous rate from February-1 next. Such an exorbitant increase of rate of water has created adverse reactions from the consumers of WASA in Rajshahi.
According to RWASA sources, at present it costs Tk 8.90 for lifting, filtering, cleaning and supplying of 1,000 liter of water. So far, 1,000 liter of clean water was supplied to the city consumers under RWASA at Tk 2.27 only. Now, according to the newly increased rate, a residential consumer will need to pay Tk 6.81 while for commercial consumer the rate will be Tk 13.62 per 1,000 liter of water. The newly charged rate is three-times more than the previous rate for both residential and commercial users.
In residents and in commercial establishments where the meters have not been connected the rate of water has been increased according to the diameter or breadth of the pipe and to the stairs of the house, for a half inch breadth pipe at a single storey house the lowest monthly rate of water is Tk 150 and for a ten storied building the minimum rate is Tk 625 per month. For a one inch breadth pipe the rate of a single story building is Tk 375 while for the ten storied of the same pipe is Tk 2,070. The bill of water will be increased in accordance with the rate ratio for further height.
For any residential building, the rate of water supply through one and a half inch of pipe has been fixed at Tk 5,625, for a two-inch pipe the rate is Tk 7,500, for a three inch pipe the rate is Tk 9,350 and for the four-inch pipe the rate is Tk 11,250 per month.
For any commercial building, the rate of water connection has been fixed at Tk 300 for a half inch pipe of a single storey is Tk 300 and for 10-storey for the same is k 1,650 while for a one inch pipe of single storey building the rate is Tk 75 and for the ten storey building is Tk 4,140. For a commercial one a half inch pipe, the rate for a ten-storey building will be Tk 11,250 and for a two-inch pipe the rate is k 15,000, for a three-inch pipe the rate is Tk 18,750 and a for a four-inch pipe the rate is Tk 22,500 per month,
It is learnt, Rajshahi WASA was established on Aug-1 of 2010. Now, this organisation lifts water from underground through 103 deep tube wells. In Rajshahi city, the daily requirement of water is 11 crore 32 lakh liter. RWASA, however, supplies nine crore liters of water daily to the city dwellers through 712-kilometre of pipelines.
Jamat Khan, General Secretary of Rajshahi Raskha Sangram Parishad said, WASA has failed to supply pure drinking water for the city consumers. The water supplied through pipelines of RWASA is infected with various bacteria and virus including the Coliform bacteria, By drinking water of WASA, people are being attacked with various diseases. So, to increase the price of water before ensuring supply of clean, quality water is a suicidal decision. He protested the move of WASA for and demanded to withdraw the decision of increasing of water price or to face movement.
Zakir Hossain, Managing Director of RWASA informed, the price of water is being increased in consultation with RWASA Board and the gov't top officials. The new rate will come in effect from Feb-1 next.
He further mentioned, the last increase of rate of water was made in 2014. The rate is being re-fixed again in coordination with the production cost of water.
