SC clears way for Wasa to raise water price by 25%

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) to implement a 25 percent hike inwater price that it fixed earlier.

The apex court today stayed for 16 weeks a High Court order that issued an injunction till August 10 on Wasa's decision to hike water tariff by 25 percent from April 1.

Chamber judge of the Appellate Division of the SC Justice Md Nuruzzaman passed the order following a petition filed by Dhaka Wasa, seeking stay on the HC's injunction order.

Following a writ petition filed by Advocate Tanvir Ahmed on June 15, the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim on June 22 issued an injunction till August 10 on Dhaka Wasa's decision.

Talking to The Daily Star, Tanvir today said that there is no legal bar for Dhaka Wasa to collect the hiked water tariff following the SC stay order.

He, however, did not say the reasons behind why the apex court stayed the HC's injunction order.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam appeared for Dhaka Wasa while Barrister Aneek R Haque represented the writ petitioner.

Citing the petition, Tanvir earlier said Dhaka Wasa had increased water prices by 5 percent on September 1.

It has further increased the water price by 25 percent since April 1 this year, which has been reported in different newspapers including The Daily Star, he said.

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

The Dhaka 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.