Nepali gov't not allowed to hike water tariff
Monday, 19 November 2007
KATHMANDU, Nov 18 (Xinhua): The Water Supply Tariff Commission (WSTC), the semi-government authority formed to fix water tariffs, will not allow the Nepali government to hike water tariff until quality of drinking water is improved, the Himalayan Times reported yesterday.
"We will not let the government to take any decision on hiking water tariff before water quality will be proved satisfactory," Ratna Sansar Shrestha, a member of the WSTC said while addressing an interaction programme on chlorination in drinking water and water quality.
According to the daily, a recent survey of drinking water has shown that the amount of chlorine in capital Kathmandu Valley's water is uneven-in some areas it found more than needed, while in other areas no amount of chlorine is detected.
Currently, consumers are paying 50 Nepali rupees (79 US cents) for 10,000 liters of water and 10 rupees (15 cents) for 1,000 liters in the valley. The government raises tariff of drinking water as per the recommendation made by donors.
"We will not let the government to take any decision on hiking water tariff before water quality will be proved satisfactory," Ratna Sansar Shrestha, a member of the WSTC said while addressing an interaction programme on chlorination in drinking water and water quality.
According to the daily, a recent survey of drinking water has shown that the amount of chlorine in capital Kathmandu Valley's water is uneven-in some areas it found more than needed, while in other areas no amount of chlorine is detected.
Currently, consumers are paying 50 Nepali rupees (79 US cents) for 10,000 liters of water and 10 rupees (15 cents) for 1,000 liters in the valley. The government raises tariff of drinking water as per the recommendation made by donors.