TRIVANDRUM: In the name of increasing 1 paisa for 1 litre of water, a real 227% increase is in the offing which will see the bimonthly tariffs skyrocketing to an unprecedented high. A consumer used to a bill in the pay range of Rs 150-250 will need to pay anywhere between Rs 350-600, if the new tariffs get adopted.

The proposal is facing the ire of the public, with many questioning the real intent behind such a punishing move. Minding the unrest, the BJP has already called for a protest in the coming days. At present, one unit in Kerala costs around Rs 4.40. This will burgeon to Rs 14.40 under the new proposal. In Tamil Nadu, the rate is around Rs 4. Meanwhile, in Delhi, up to 25 kilolitres of water go free to consumers.

A normal consumer uses anywhere between 10 to 20 kilolitres of water a month. The rates will be charged according to the consumptions as charges vary according to the slabs. The KWA has submitted three proposals for tariff hike. The details of new slabs will be available only when the government issues orders for the hike.

The water authority is said to be ailing under a debt of 4000 crores. So the government's illiberal solution is to hike the tariffs to balance the decrepit financial state that Kerala is mired in.