By Apurva Bhatt

From April this year Mumbaikars will have to pay more their usage of water. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday passed the proposal to increase sewerage tax from 60 % to 70 % of your water charges. However the standing committee of the BMC the apex body had dismissed the hike of 80 %, proposed by the corporation, thereby increasing only by 10 %. The new charges will come into effect from April 1 this year. Civic officials said increase in sewerage taxes by 10 % will fetch additional revenue of Rs 65 crores to the coffers of the BMC.

Informs Sanjay Mukherjee, additional municipal commissioner, “The extra revenue earned through this hike, will be put to use to provide better services to the citizens.” However the ruling party BJP-Shiv Sena weren’t too happy with this hike. Manoj Kotak,  (BJP) group leader in the house remarks, “The civic body could have easily avoided this hike, as already the residents are burdened with taxes. Basic facilities like water should be taxed at nominal rates.”