Jamshedpur/Ranchi: Jamshedpur West MLA Saryu Roy raised the issue of drinking water connection fees (water connection installation fees) in Jharkhand, especially Jamshedpur, through a short notice question in the Assembly on Wednesday.
Roy pointed out that the government has fixed the water connection installation fee at Rs 7,000 for homes with an area of up to 1,000 square feet, Rs 14,000 for homes with an area of 1,000 to 2,000 square feet, and Rs 21,000 for homes with an area of 2,000 to 3,000 square feet.
The MLA urged the government to reduce this fee, calling it excessive. The government acknowledged in the Jharkhand Assembly that the committee formed to consider reducing the fee had recommended that the water connection installation fee should be Rs 5,000 for homes up to 1,000 square feet and a maximum of Rs 7,000 for homes above 1,000 square feet.
The government assured that the rates recommended by the committee would be notified after amending the previous rules. Additionally, water connections would be free for people living below the poverty line, and the Health Department’s definition of the poverty line for the “Medical Assistance Scheme for Incurable Diseases” would be adopted for water connections.
