AERIAL VIEW…
Never has any Goan seen 100 rupees meter inspection charges. This itself is a massive injustice to the taxpayers.
Sources say there are around 2.5 lakh water connections in teh State, and the inspection charges would mean a revenue of Rs 2.5 cr to the State government.
Apart from this, the PWD is also charging Rs 55 as meter rent every month. The meter, installed by PWD, costs around Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000, and the consumer has to pay the amount entire life. At the rate of Rs 55, the meter charges are paid in eight years, but teh charges continue for life.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
On August 15, 2021, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant announced that the Government would give 16000 litres of free water to Goans from September 1. Well, all of Goa knew that it was an election gimmick and nothing else, as the Government would recover double of what it had given before the election if voted to power again.
Well, looking at my July Bill, one wonders what free is the Chief Minister talking about? Even before announcing the free water, the Public Works Department has hiked the tariff.
Earlier, the hidden charges were only applicable in the private sector, but the Sawant government has now taken a cue from them.
Never has any Goan seen 100 rupees meter inspection charges. This itself is a massive injustice to the taxpayers.
Sources say there are around 2.5 lakh water connections in the State, and the inspection charges would mean a revenue of Rs 2.5 cr to the State government.
Apart from this, the PWD is also charging Rs 55 as meter rent every month. The meter, installed by PWD, costs around Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000, and the consumer has to pay the amount for his entire life. At the rate of Rs 55, the meter charges are paid off in eight years, but the charges continue for life.
Meaning the water meter may work or not, the water may be supplied or not, the consumer still has to pay around 600 rupees every year to the department. What an injustice. Instead, why not the PWD ask the consumers to get their own rent or take charge on time while installation?
The Chief Minister announced that the Goans would get 16000 litres of free water, approximately around Rs 350 to 400 every month.
While the Government was expected to follow suit after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced 300 units of free electricity if voted to power. The AAP announcement seems to have rattled the Government as they got massive following the announcement. To tackle the same, the CM decided to offer free water.
However, one opines, Goans don’t need free water or electricity. The need of the hour for Goans is good roads, better power supply, water supply, good education infrastructure and better health care facilities.
Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee always said – Don’t give anything free to people; it will only make them lazy and irresponsible. Instead, give them free education and healthcare, which will make them stronger.” However, the BJP seems to have forgotten this statement of their own former prime minister.
Today, we only see potholed roads, poor infrastructure hampering education during pandemic times, poor quality health care, and erratic power and water supply.
Even before making a statement from the podium on Independence Day, the Chief Minister should have assured Goans that Government will protect its natural assets, provide good and sustainable infrastructure like roads; people would have applauded him, but free water “jumla” does not seem to have gone well at least with Goans.