Tambaram residents miffed with ‘silent’ water charges hike and deposit burden

In Tambaram City Municipal Corporation limits, residents are boiling over with resentment over what they call abnormal monthly water consumption charges and one-time deposits. They learnt around three days ago they have to fork out a deposit amount and monthly payment for water supply services based on the plinth area of their houses. The math has been worked out and the tariff slabs are available online. What has left a sour taste in their mouth is the notification about the water supply deposits and increase in water consumption charges had been made in September 2025, immediately followed by a GO, but they did not hear a chirp about it. 

There was no consultation; no explanation. They should have pasted notices outside premises, says Sethu Madhavan P.G., senior social activist from AGS Colony in Chromepet. 

D. Devaraj, secretary, Chromepet New Colony Residents Welfare Association notes that based on the new water consumption charges that would take effect, the increase would be 300 percent or more, for those with plinth area of 600 sq.ft or more. According to the revised consumption charges, domestic consumers with a plinth area of 601 to 1200 sq.ft (which would account for a majority of consumers) will pay a monthly charge of Rs. 150, and a deposit of Rs. 10000. For those with a plinth area 1201 to 1800 sq.ft, Rs. 180 and Rs. 12,500. And the amounts rise along with the increase in plinth area. For domestic consumers with a plinth area of 600 sq.ft or less, it is Rs. 120 and Rs. 7500. 

On April 15, residents were on the warpath, when a hike counting for a three-time increase in water consumption charges was introduced and it was rolled back before the day ended. The hike is being reintroduced, these activists note, underlining how the steep deposit amount would particularly affect senior citizens. D. Devaraj and K. Subramanian from Chromepet New Colony Residents Welfare Association, Sethu Madhavan P.G. from AGS Colony, Chromepet and senior social activist Krishnamurti met Tambaram Corporation Commissioner S. Balachander and made their disenchantment known. 

When these residents questioned about lack of prior information about the hike (as well as the absence of a consultation with residents), the Tambaram Corporation Commissioner Balachander reportedly said the information would be made available soon.