SWABI, Feb 25: People have rejected increase in water charges from Rs40 per month to Rs150. A notification in this regard had been issued recently by Public Health Department of the NWFP.

Talking to Dawn here on Sunday, consumers said the increase in water charges would overburden them and they might stop paying their bills.

They ridiculed the claim of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) that its government had effectively contained the price spiral. The increase in water charges was a ‘gift’ of the MMA government, they said.

An official told Dawn that the government was forced to increase water charges as there was a huge gap between the revenue received from water bills and government expenditure on water supply in the province.

He said people should pay the charges according to the new schedule.