PANJIM: Bowing to the pressure from the Opposition leaders, the government on Thursday withheld its decision to hike water tariff. However, the notification dated May 12, 2020 is not withdrawn yet.
“The notification was issued as a part of the procedure related to Budget announcement. It will be kept on hold for now and the water tariff will not be increased in the State as of now,” PWD Minister Deepak Pauskar said.
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He explained that the notification, issued on May 12, will not be implemented while reiterating that in the Budget 2019-20, the increase in tariff was announced. “The notification is in line with the decision. Nevertheless, Chief Minister (Pramod Sawant) has assured to give the hike a thought as and when it is actually implemented,” he added.
Leader of Opposition Digambar Kamat, Goa Forward Party President Vijai Sardesai and MLAs Ramkrishna Dhavalikar and Rohan Khaunte had demanded to rollback the hike while condemning the decision of the government.
BJP president Sadanand Shet Tanavade, who met CM on Wednesday evening, had sought from the government to reconsider the decision. “He has agreed,” Tanavade had informed Herald after the meeting.
Meanwhile, on the development front, Pauskar discussed about the ongoing projects in the State.
