Water prices will not rise, Wasa board decides in meeting

Considering the coronavirus situation, the Dhaka Wasa Board has decided not to increase the price of water for now.

The decision came at the board meeting of Wasa held today over the issue.

"We did not give approval to the proposal of increasing the five percent water tariff considering the present coronavirus pandemic situation and we will reconsider it when the situation will normalise," said Wasa Board Chairman Golam Mostafa.

Earlier, a proposal was made to increase water prices by five percent for residential and commercial users from July 1.

According to the proposal, the prices of each unit (1,000 litres) of water will be Tk 15.18 for residential use and Tk 42 for commercial use, up from the current prices of Tk 14.46 and Tk 40 respectively.

It was supposed to pass in the board meeting.

Chairman of the board on Monday told the Daily Star that Wasa increases water prices by five percent every year, adjusting for inflation.

"We only earn half of the production cost of water and we have to increase the price gradually to have a sustainable future for the company," he said.

The Dhaka Wasa can increase the water tariff by five percent in consultation with the government as per section 22 of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Act, 1996.