Tangerang to up water rates

TANGERANG: City-owned water operator Tirta Kerta Raharja plans to increase water rates up to 17 percent for households and 30 percent for industries next February.

The company spokesman Anda Suhanda said the planned hike had been delayed since July.

"We have gradually increased the price since December 2003 ... It has nothing to do with the planned fuel price hike next year," he was quoted as saying by Tempointeraktif.com news portal on Wednesday.

The company revealed that the price hike would not effect hospitals and houses of worships. -- JP