City Hall reviews water price hike

City Hall reviews water price hike

Governor Surjadi Soedirja has indicated that the city
administration might revoke the City Water Company's (PAM Jaya)
recent decision to increase prices at public water taps.

"Right now we are still discussing whether to accept the new
Rp 780 (36 US cents) per cubic meter rate or completely reject
it," Surjadi said.

Surjadi was tight-lipped about giving any indication to the
municipality's final decision.

Only after we have evaluated all the facts, will we announce
the decision, Surjadi said as quoted by Antara.

PAM Jaya last month hiked up the overall water price for
households at an average of 40 percent while public water taps
are burdened with a fantastic 312 percent raise.

The jump from Rp 250 per cubic meter to Rp 780 per cubic meter
has caused a public outcry by the many who purchase their water
from water retailers.

Calls by PAM Jaya to retailers not to increase retail prices
have mostly been unheeded. Consumers in many parts of the city
have complained that they have to pay between 50 to 100 percent
higher than the ceiling price set by the city-owned company.

Initial response by PAM Jaya to the criticism has been a two
month delay of the price hike at water taps to allow the company
time to set the maximum retail prices.

However public pressure, weighted by continuous grumbling from
city councillors who were disappointed by PAM Jaya's unilateral
decision to hike prices of the public water, taps has prompted
city officials to at least review the decision. (mds)