“The committee unanimously rejected the Municipal Commissioner’s proposal to increase water charges. So for now, they will remain same as the current year. The decision has been taken in larger public interest,” Standing Committee Chairman Vijay Shah told mediapersons after a meeting of the Committee.

He said the civic body would seek additional grant to make up for the difference of around of Rs 25 crore.

Moreover, the Committee increased allocation for cleaning and regeneration of Vishwamitri river from Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. But on the other hand, it drastically cut allocation for consultancy charges to prepare water distribution master plan for 2040. Now, the budgetary allocation for this stands at Rs 5 lakh from the original proposal of Rs 25 lakh.