Shawdesh Desk:

The High Court on Monday issued injunction till August 10 on Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority’s (WASA) decision of hiking water price from April 1 this year.

The bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim passed the order after holding a virtual hearing on a writ petition.

Earlier on June 15, Advocate Tanvir Ahmed file filed the petition as a public interest litigation to the High Court through virtual system, praying to the court to declare Dhaka Wasa’s move to increase water price by 25 percent illegal.

The advocate said most countrymen are now facing serious financial crisis and amid this situation, hiking water tariff is not only illegal but also a heartless act.

Wasa can increase the water tariff by only 5 percent in consultation with the government as per section 22 of the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Act, 1996, the writ petitioner added.

On April 1, Dhaka WASA increased the water price for residential customers by 25 percent, and the price for commercial customers was increased by about 8 percent.

At the new rate, the price of water per thousand liters has been fixed at Tk14.46, up from the earlier price of Tk11.57; and in the commercial sector, the price has been increased from Tk 37.4 per thousand liters to Tk40.

The price of water was increased by 5 percent last September.