Pandemic hits income, but Greater Noida residents have to pay more for water

GREATER NOIDA: Like previous years, residents of Greater Noida will have to shell out 10% extra for consumption of water. The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) will start generating water bills from June 1, officials said.
Although GNIDA has been revising water charges annually since 2013, residents were expecting a breather this year because of the Covid-19 crisis.The charges will come into effect from April 1, the beginning of the new financial year.

Earlier this week, GNIDA had held a meeting where it was decided to revise the rates with effect from April 1. Residential, industrial, commercial and group housing plot allottees would be given time till September 30 to settle the increased charges.
Though a 10% hike in water tariff has been an annual move by GNIDA, it has not able to generate bills or circulate notice among residents so far because of the lockdown.
Deep Chandra, additional chief executive officer at GNIDA, said, “The decision to revise water charges is taken annually. This year, too, charges have been increased by 10%. People will get the revised bills soon. Since we are moving towards a contactless delivery of services, payment of bills will have to be processed online.”
Apart from 5,000 commercial, institutional and industrial plot-holders, GNIDA also caters to about 45,000 residential units. Water is supplied to these households for three hours in the morning and three in the evening.
Officials said capacity had been developed over the years to supply 750 litres of water to each household daily. The town gets its supply from three underground reservoirs and scores of overhead water tanks in various sectors.
Residents said they would oppose the move. Devendra Tiger, president of the federation of residents’ welfare associations of Greater Noida, said, “We’ll hold a telephonic meeting with office-bearers on Friday. We’ll ask the authority to waive the hike this year since lockdown has impacted the income of almost everyone.”
Tiger also complained that the pressure and quality of water had not improved though charges have been hiked over the past few years.
Told about the objection from residents, Chandra said, “Unless we get a representation from residents, it will not be appropriate for me to say anything. Our charges are extremely nominal even after the hike.”
Effective rates
A 10% hike in water charges would lead to an additional burden in the range of Rs 250 and Rs 1,500 annually for residential plot allottees in the category of 120 sqmt to 500 sqmt. The dent would be steeper for bigger plot holders
For group housing residents whose plot sizes are between 10,000 sqmt and 15,000 sqmt, an additional burden of about Rs 52,500 would have to be divided among residents on a yearly basis.