Nagpur: Envisioned as Nagpur's gateway to the future, the Multi-Modal International Hub Airport at Nagpur (Mihan) has long been pitched as a magnet for IT investments. However, for people living in its residential areas, the promise is colliding with a basic, everyday concern — the cost and, in some cases, even the availability of water.
Water Tariff Dispute in Mihan
Several housing societies in Mihan have raised concerns over the water tariff structure implemented by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), which is developing Mihan. One of the societies has officially complained to the agency, calling the tariff disproportionately high and inconsistent with domestic billing norms followed by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC).
The NMC follows a slab-based tariff: Rs 8.99 per unit for 1-20 units, Rs 14.36 for 21-30, Rs 19.77 for 31-80, and Rs 25.18 beyond 80 units. In contrast, MADC applies a flat-rate system without slabs, which has steadily increased from Rs 15.97 per unit in 2022-23 to Rs 21.26 per unit in 2025-26. According to an MADC official response, the new rate for residential potable water will be Rs 23.38 per 1,000 litres from April 1, 2026.
Deepak Birole, a resident pursuing the issue with authorities, stated, "Even the per-unit water price for Mihan residents is excessively high. At a time when the area is being projected as an upcoming IT hub, residents are being forced to pay a premium for a basic necessity. Additionally, the absence of a slab system means there is no distinction between low and high consumption; even minimal usage is charged at rates comparable to the upper slabs in the city."
Lack of Basic Services
Residents of another society claimed they do not even have a functional water connection and rely on alternative arrangements while tariff structures remain under dispute elsewhere. Senior advocate R K Dube, a resident, said, "We don't even have water supply in our society till date. We have been raising this issue for the past couple of years, but there is no lasting solution. We now plan to approach the concerned authorities again."
They also pointed to broader gaps in civic infrastructure. Another resident noted, "Basic services like waste management are not streamlined," adding that the society has hired a private agency for garbage collection.
MADC's Response
In its written response to the society, MADC stated that the water tariff structure in Mihan is governed by its annual circular approved by the competent authority and is uniformly applicable to all consumers in the project area. As per the revised rates effective April 2026, domestic potable water is charged at Rs 23.38 per 1,000 litres, with separate higher rates for residential, commercial, and industrial categories. The agency maintained that the billing and tariff framework currently in place is being implemented in line with these notified provisions.
When contacted, NMC commissioner and MADC chief Vipin Itankar told TOI that he would look into the matter.
