Water woes: Kullu locals protest shocking bills, demand relief

Residents across Kullu district are voicing strong frustration following a wave of unexpectedly high water bills issued by the Jal Shakti Department. The sudden spike in charges has triggered widespread discontent, particularly among consumers who received accumulated bills spanning several months.

This lump-sum billing has placed an undue financial burden on households — especially joint families and tenants sharing a single water meter — many of whom have been billed thousands of rupees for the third quarter of the previous fiscal year. If the current slab structure and rates remain unchanged, similar bills are expected for the next two quarters as well.

Citizens are demanding a more rational and consumer-friendly water tariff policy to ensure that access to basic necessities doesn’t become a financial hardship. They are also calling for a shift to monthly or more frequent billing intervals to avoid the shock of large, irregular payments. Additionally, locals want the department to reassess previously issued inflated bills and provide immediate relief to affected consumers to ease mental and financial stress.

Responding to the mounting public outrage, a delegation from Sultanpur, led by Municipal Councillor and state BJP media co-incharge Danvender Singh, submitted a formal memorandum to the Kullu DC via the Additional District Magistrate.

“We have appealed to the state government and the Jal Shakti Department to immediately revise the recently issued bills to more reasonable rates, so that the public receives genuine relief,” Singh said.

This concern is not limited to any one locality — it spans the entire district and even the state. People’s representatives, social activists and concerned citizens have united in demanding swift and meaningful action. The bulk billing practice is widely seen as arbitrary and unfair. Among their key demands is a revision of the tariff structure, including increasing the minimum slab to 50 kilolitres.

Singh further urged the district administration and the state government to acknowledge the hardship being faced by ordinary citizens and to ensure a timely and just resolution. “Immediate relief and protection of public interest must be prioritised,” he emphasised.

Meanwhile, residents said the Jal Shakti Department claims that a family of five using only 135 litres per person per day would be charged just Rs 500 per month. However, most families exceed five members and locals are demanding the department release data on how many consumers actually received bills under Rs 500 this cycle.

Resident Abhishek remarked that electricity — which powers appliances all day — costs less than water, which is used for just a few hours. He criticised the department for charging Rs 77.87 per kilolitre (including sewerage charges) beyond the 30-unit cap — a steep jump from the previous rate of Rs 18 per unit. He called this “criminal,” especially since the water supply in Kullu is largely gravity-driven. Abhishek also questioned the department’s claim that producing this water costs Rs 100 per unit.

Himachal Tribune