The Sindh government’s notification could result in a significant increase in water bills for domestic, commercial, and industrial consumers, with projections of up to 800%.
Increase up to 800%
Agricultural consumers, on the other hand, may face a doubling of abiana (water tax). This sharp increase in water bills is the first significant rate adjustment in more than 25 years, dating back to 1999.
The Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority (SIDA) has directed the directors of its three area water boards, in a letter dated March 18, to immediately implement the revised water tax rates for irrigation and non-irrigation purposes.
WASA in Hyderabad
These boards are in charge of distributing water to agricultural consumers as well as entities such as the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) in Hyderabad, municipal bodies, and the Public Health Engineering Department throughout Sindh’s districts.
According to Hizbullah Mangrio, a spokesperson for SIDA, the agency currently charges Rs0.50 per 1,000 gallons to government departments that supply water to residential consumers, while commercial and industrial customers pay Rs1 per 1,000 gallons.
However, under the proposed tariff adjustments, residential consumers would pay Rs4 per 1,000 gallons, while commercial and industrial consumers would pay Rs8 per 1,000 gallons.
The increase was approved during an interim provincial government cabinet meeting on February 20 and then formalized by notification from the Sindh Irrigation Secretary on March 6.
All commissioners, deputy commissioners, the irrigation department, and SIDA were directed to immediately implement the new rates.
Similarly, per-acre abiana for crops is expected to increase by 100 percent. Rice farmers in different canal command areas can expect to pay between Rs127 and Rs355 per acre, while cotton farmers will pay between Rs84 and Rs372.
Sugarcane growers will pay rates ranging from Rs240 to Rs727, wheat farmers from Rs79 to Rs213, and orchard farmers from Rs133 to Rs568. Growers of other crops will also face a doubling of abiana charges.
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