Leader of Opposition Debabrata Saikia opposes Tax on Groundwater

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia has flayed the order of the Central Ground Water Authority whereby all groundwater users, including residents of residential apartments, group housing societies, government water supply agencies etc., in urban areas have been asked to mandatorily fit peizometers and pay water abstraction charges for the quantity of water consumed.

Saikia said that the State Government has overall failed to ensure adequate supply of water, as a result of which citizens are being forced to arrange for their own water supply by using water pumps etc. He said that it is reported Government water supply schemes cover only 30 per cent of the population in Guwahati, while the rest are dependent on personal tube wells and private water suppliers.

The Congress leader that four water supply projects were supposed to be completed in Guwahati in 2011 and 2015, but these have not been completed even now.

He said that instead of resolving the water scarcity, the Government is now seeking to impose a tax on water under the guise of implementing regulations of the Union Jal Shakti Ministry.

Pointing out that the Tamil Nadu Government has already refused to implement the relevant regulation, Saikia urged the State Government to follow suit in order to provide succour to the residents of Assam.

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