The Municipal Corporation of Mohali is set to make changes to the water connection charges that were previously in place, which is a rather drastic shift. It has now been escalated from ₹2 per square foot to ₹20 per square foot, and as a consequence, obtaining a new water connection in Mohali has now cost ten times more than what it did before. This change makes the current Municipal Corporates prices comparable to the prices set by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority, also known as GMADA. One of the employees from the water department did confirm that they did not modify the water tariff.
In the previous set of order, the new water connections for the newly developed sectors within GMADA did indeed charge more in comparison to the old municipal sectors. This difference has now been sorted out with the new prices now in place to ensure that both GMADA and municipal regions charges are similar. This development means that older regions of Mohali will be required to pay significantly more in comparison to what they previously had to.
The Executive Engineer of Water and Sanitation said that the increase in connection fee was in compliance with GMADA notification dated 28 November 2024. Hence there is regularization of the fee structure for the whole city of Mohali, including the developed and newly constructed sectors.
New water connection fees will be charged in additional zones which include from Phase 1 to Phase 11, Shaheemajra, Madanpur, Mataur, as well as Sector 48 C, and even the rest of the old Mohali. These increased rates will also apply to Industrial Area (Phases 1 to 5) and Sector 70-71.
In the past, the new areas like Aerocity, IT City and Aerotropolis City had much higher charges by GMADA with respect to new water connections. For example, Water Connections for new additions were billed by GMADA at Rs 20 per square foot, which means for a standard 10 marla house (2250 square feet) the charge was ₹45,000. On the other hand, 10 marla single storey houses were previously offered at ₹4,350 in the municipal area. As a result of legislations, ₹45,000 is what even older Mohali sector residents will have to spend on new water connection additions. This means the municipal charges are now at par with what is levied in GMADA’s jurisdiction.
As a result, the fees have remarkably increased, and the primary explanation is the inadequate resources accessible for the Municipal Corporation. In Mohali, these properties under 2 marlas aren’t even charged for a water bill while properties above 2 marlas are only charged for ₹200 to ₹500. This limited revenue generation has put significant pressure on the city’s water and sanitation department, which is now seeking to boost its funds by raising connection charges.
People living in older parts of Mohali have raised concern over the increased rates, as it will further strain their already strained budgets. Critics argue that while setting a standard price may seem like a just practice, the even cost poses a burden for many households. The municipal corporation is still silent about the prospects of ameliorating the impact of this increase, such as granting rebates or payment options to the financially struggling citizens.
This increase in water connection fees is most likely to have an adverse ripple effect not only on homeowners but also on real estate activities in Mohali. Building new constructions in older sectors may incur higher costs for developers which will, in turn, increase the rent or sale value of these properties for new inhabitants. It is noteworthy that the growth pattern of Mohali so far does not provide much hope that all the stakeholders will cope with this terrible sans significant review of the pricing of water connections. Stay updated with latest Mohali News at our website NewsChandigarh.com!