A surge of discontent has swept the Puna area in Varachha zone, Surat, over a water supply scheme administered by the Surat Municipal Corporation. Residents, predominantly women, have vociferously protested against a soaring water bill that has exceeded one lakh for a single apartment complex. They argue that the Municipal Corporation's promise of a 24-hour water supply has been a far cry from reality, with the area only receiving water for three to three and a half hours daily. As a result, they allege, the scheme is unjustifiably draining the pockets of the people with inflated meter charges.
Occasional protests have marked the Municipal Corporation's 24-hour water scheme since its inception. The most recent dissent flared up when residents of Satyam Apartments and Akash Ganga Apartments in Ward No. 16 (Puna-West) found themselves saddled with steep water bills amounting to Rs 1.50 lakh and Rs 80 thousand, respectively. Anguished over these charges, residents congregated outside both apartment complexes to voice their grievances against the excessive water meter bills imposed by the Municipal Corporation.
The matter was brought to the attention of local corporators Payal Sakariya and Shobhanaben, who promptly arrived on the scene. Locals informed them that the half-yearly water bills for the apartments, which previously ranged from Rs 1500 to 1700, had now escalated to over one lakh. This increase is unaffordable for many poorer and middle-class residents, who demanded justice and immediate remediation. Furthermore, the protesters highlighted that despite the promise of a 24-hour water supply, water was available for a mere three to three and a half hours daily. This disparity has forced residents to resort to water tankers frequently, amplifying their frustration.
