Jaipur: Water tanker owners go on strike over slashed rates

JAIPUR: Around 200 water tanker owners in Vishwakarma area went on strike on Thursday protesting against the rates set by the district administration. As per the orders of the collector, water tankers have to charge as per the rates decided by the district administration, failing which action will be taken against them.
Water tanker owners alleged that the rates decided by the administration are not reasonable and were affecting their livelihood.
As per the order of the collector, a water tanker can charge between Rs 180 to Rs 312 depending on the distance as against a minimum flat rate of Rs 400 charged by the tankers. Orders mention that if anyone charges above the given rate card, their tube-well or wells will be seized by the government.
Bakshi Chaudhary, one of the tanker owners on strike, said, “The price of petrol is increasing and district administration wants us to supply water on such low prices set by them. There would be nothing left for us if we started supplying on such cheap rates. Now, our customers have started threatening us with the rates issued. We want the government to take back the notification or increase the rates that can be convenient for public and tanker owners.”
The rates published by the district administration two days back came after hundreds of complaints were received by the administration over tankers owners charging more than Rs 500 in many places due to increase in water demand and scarce supply.
Jaipur collector Jagroop Yadav said, “Government water tanker owners are already supplying water to the PHED department on these rates. We want private water tanker owners to follow them and if they have any objection then come to office and discuss this. There have been complaints that water tanker rates were sky-rocketing because of which this was essential. We are ready to make any changes if given practical reasons for it.”