Panaji: Seven days after the State began to supply free water to 60% of the country’s domestic consumers, the Goa Industrial Development Corporation has increased water rates for industrial units by 5%.
GIDC on Monday informs the industrial unit that the water supply rate increased to Rs 39 per cubic meter and Rs 78 per cubic meter for industries that use water as raw materials, with retrospective effects from April.
Reacting sharply with the increase in water tariffs, the Gua State Industry Association (Gsia) said that the government played the political election of the Bank by “the looting industry to provide free water to the public” in the state.
By 2020, PWD increases water rates for industrial units from Rs 30 to Rs 35 per cubic meter.
GIDC charges an additional fee of Rs 2 per cubic meter of water included.
With the latest increase, PWD will charge a fee of Rs 37 per cubic meter of water.
Pharmaceutical companies, packaging companies and food processing units that use water in the manufacturing process must pay double.
“All entrepreneurs are asked to record the same thing, because the subsequent water bill will be issued shows an increase in the amount of effect from April 2021 in the water bill arrear column,” said Safe Shetgaonkar, field manager, Tuem Industrion) plantation.
The industrial unit is very angry with the government, with industrialists saying that if the government cannot support entrepreneurs, at least can stop creating new obstacles and loads.
“The chairman of the minister, announcing free water to consumers, say under the mission of” Save Water to get a free mission “, but the government’s intention appears to be free water to save sound.
Why supply free water if the government cannot afford it,” Asked the President Gsia Damodar Kochkar.
The Department of Water Resources (WRD), in the revised 2021 policy, suggests not to provide water at no cost.
“With increasing water tariffs, the industry will be forced to buy water from a tanker supplier or take water from Borewells, which in turn will drain groundwater levels,” Kochkar said.
Gsia has urged the government to show “a better sense” and reduce water rates for the industry too.