Scores of tanker-dependent residents in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar are facing a fresh financial burden as private water suppliers have announced a hike in charges starting Monday. The suppliers, citing water scarcity and an increase in diesel prices, have decided to charge Rs100 more per trip, bringing the cost per tanker to Rs900. This comes after a series of gradual increases since the beginning of summer, when the per-trip charge was between Rs500 and Rs600. The repeated hikes have been burning holes in the pockets of citizens, who rely heavily on tanker water for their daily needs.
Reasons for the Price Hike
A water tanker supplier, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained the rationale behind the increase: “We source water from wells, but all such water bodies have dried up now. We have to source water from wells situated in far areas, and the additional burden needs to be passed to users.” Many tanker suppliers highlighted that diesel prices have shot up by Rs7.50 per litre due to recent multiple hikes. “Besides fuel becoming costlier, it has become scarce too. We also struggle to arrange for fuel,” another supplier added. He noted that tanker charges may dip if wells revive during the early phase of the monsoon.
Impact on Residents
Areas such as Satara-Deolai, Mitmita, Padegaon, and several other municipal limits still depend on water tankers due to the unavailability of tap water supply. Alka Washikar, a resident of the Satara area, expressed her distress: “The hike in tanker charges will inflict more financial stress upon us. We depend on such supplies for drinking water and other needs. Every month we end up paying huge money towards the tanker supply.” Residents are now forced to allocate a larger portion of their monthly budgets to water, adding to their already strained finances.
The situation underscores the broader water crisis in the region, exacerbated by depleting groundwater levels and inadequate municipal supply. With no immediate relief in sight, residents are left to bear the escalating costs of an essential commodity.
