In all probability, the residents of the Valley would be required to make advance payment for water supply. The Seven Trent International Water Limited, a foreign company that despite controversies is likely to be entrusted with the task of management and distribution of the Valley’s drinking water system, is preparing to implement such a scheme from mid-July this year. As per the new rule, the customers would be charged a tariff of Rs 600 per 20 cubic metres of water in addition to 50 per cent charge for sewage disposal system. This puts the total cost at Rs 900 per month in contrast to Rs 50 for 10 cubic metres of water that the valley residents pay right now.

The new tariff system would hit the consumers quite hard. The proposed reform seems impractical too in the sense that an average family, say comprising five members, consume only 7.5 cubic metres a month while the new system imposes the compulsory payment for 20 cubic metres per household. Main idea behind handing over the management to a private company is to meet the public demand, make the system more efficient and corruption-free, but certainly not to add extra burden on the locals. To introduce such arbitrary price hikes, no managerial expertise would at all be needed. Moreover, there is no guarantee of quality and timely and adequate supply of water. If it is all right to pay the telephone and electricity bills after use, why should the people pay the water charges in advance? This is yet another reason to reflect on whether a foreign company would indeed serve the people’s interest.