Councilor opposes water hike plan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A city councilor urged the municipality
\nyesterday to postpone its plan to increase water tariffs in line
\nwith a proposal by city-owned drinking water company PDAM Jaya.<\/p>\n
The council's speaker, Edy Waluyo, said putting up the price
\nwould further burden residents during the monetary crisis.<\/p>\n
"I suggest that the city maintain its current price, at least
\nuntil the March general session of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly."<\/p>\n
And increasing the water tariff will only heighten the
\npressure on Jakartans, who have endured a prolonged dry season,
\nEdy said.<\/p>\n
The scarcity of water, recorded throughout most parts of the
\ncity, had made water a precious commodity, he said.<\/p>\n
"So I think it would be wise to cancel the planned tariff hike
\nand wait until the situation becomes better."<\/p>\n
PDAM Jaya director Rama Boedi said earlier that the plan would
\nensure cross-subsidization between the rich and the poor.<\/p>\n
Under the plan, the tariff for big consumers would be
\nincreased by 6 percent to 40 percent while small users would
\nenjoy a two percent to five percent reduction.<\/p>\n
"There's no other way out but to raise the tariff because it
\nis difficult for us to keep the business going during the current
\neconomic climate," he said<\/p>\n
"Our production costs have doubled. So with these slight
\ntariff changes we hope we can survive."<\/p>\n
When asked to comment yesterday, Deputy Governor for Economic
\nand Finance Affairs Harun Al Rasyid explained that his office had
\nnot yet received PDAM Jaya's official proposal for the tariff
\nincrease.<\/p>\n
"But we'll, of course, consider requests from both the city
\ncouncil and the drinking water firm," Harun said.<\/p>\n
According to Rama of PDAM Jaya, the water tariffs have not
\nbeen increased since the 1995\/1996 fiscal year.<\/p>\n
Currently, the tariffs for social service buildings -- such as
\nfoster homes and hospitals -- range between Rp 390 (0.07 US
\ncents) and Rp 930 per cubic meter of water.<\/p>\n
Household tariffs are between Rp 390 (for small houses) to Rp
\n1,845 (for luxurious houses), while commercial tariffs are
\nbetween Rp 1,350 and Rp 3,100 and industrial tariffs are from Rp
\n1,175 to Rp 5,050. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/councilor-opposes-water-hike-plan-1447893297",
"image": ""
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