TIB terms Wasa’s tariff-hike proposal unfair

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has termed Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) proposal of a tariff hike as unfair and unacceptable.

It also called for fixing a reasonable rate through public hearings involving experts after ensuring adequate supply and better quality, reports UNB. 

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman in a statement said the proposal made by  Dhaka Wasa was contradictory to WASA Act, 1996. 

“Dhaka Wasa proposes to increase the price of water from Tk11.57 to Tk20 per unit at the residential level while from Tk37.04 to Tk65 at the commercial level which is 80% increase,” he said.

“This proposal contradicts the provision of price increases of up to 5% annually under the Wasa’s 1996 Act,” he added. 

“Despite its failure to improve the quality of water, such abnormal price hike will lead to more sufferings on the already frustrated city dwellers,” Dr Iftekharuzzaman noted.

Referring to the data of a TIB study on Dhaka Wasa published in April 2019, the TIB chief said: "The study found that 44.8% of the connection holders under Dhaka Wasa do not get water as per the demand, 51.5% of the water supplied is not clean and 41.4% of the supplied water has bad odour.”