Writ petition against 25% water price hike

A Supreme Court lawyer today filed a writ petition with the High Court, seeking its order of injunction on Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority's (Wasa) decision to hike the price of water by 25 percent from April 1 this year.

Advocate Tanvir Ahmed virtually submitted the petition as a public interest litigation to the High Court, and also prayed to the court to declare Dhaka Wasa's move illegal.

Citing the petition, Tanvir told The Daily Star that Dhaka Wasa had increased the water tariff by 5 percent on September 1 last year.

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

The advocate said most of the countrymen are now facing serious financial crisis and amid this situation, hiking the 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.

Tanvir said the High Court is yet to fix a date for holding hearing on his petition.