RAWALPINDI, May 27: Water charges are likely to be doubled in the forthcoming budget of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB), sources told Dawn.

“The increase has long been overdue as water charges have remained the same since 1996,” an RCB official said on condition of anonymity.

The hike in water charges will bridge the gap between the expenses borne by the RCB on its water supply system and the low recovery of dues from the public.

At present, the civic body spends as much as Rs100 million annually to maintain its water supply network whereas the total amount that it collects in the shape of water charges is only Rs20.5 million.

The RCB official said the collection had been taken to this level only recently after the civic body stepped up its efforts to recover outstanding water dues from the cantonment residents and also snap illegal connections.

Only a few months ago, the recovery was only up to Rs10 million, he said.

At present, water rates of the RCB range from Rs50 to Rs150 per month in residential areas. After the increase, the charges will reach Rs150 to Rs400 per month.

Apart from the overall cost incurred on water supply, the increase had also become inevitable due to the supply of water from Khanpur Dam, a water supply official said.

The overall operational and maintenance charges of Khanpur Dam water are Rs35 per 1,000 gallons of water.

The civic agency has not yet paid millions of rupees to the Capital Development Authority as its share of operational and maintenance charges spent on the Khanpur Dam project.

Meanwhile, the RCB has closed tubewells in three areas due to the lowering water-table. These localities are Presidency Park, Gawalmandi and Peshawar Road.