Even as the business of private water tankers flourishes in the city, the service providers have demanded that the civic administration should revise the rates for their service as they cannot afford the given rates.

Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade said, in reply to a query on Wednesday, that he was unaware of elected representatives “having any interest in the private tanker business or taking advantage of their position to promote the business”.

Most of the private tankers are allegedly controlled by the corporators

A delegation of tanker service providers met Mayor Rajlaxmi Bhosale on Wednesday and voiced the demands. “We will stop the service if the civic administration fails to raise the rates,” said Balasaheb Gondhale who led the delegation.

He said there are 30 private tanker service providers and around 300 tankers in the city and they enjoy a profit margin of a mere Rs 100 per trip. “The rates fixed by the PMC are very low and it is difficult to run the business at such rates.”

He demanded that the civic administration should announce the revised rates by Thursday, failing which the providers will stop the service. The PMC had announced rates of Rs 600 a trip for 10,000-litre tankers, Rs 700 for 15,000-litre tankers and Rs 800 for 20,000-litre tankers.

The private operators pointed out that the total expenses for private water tankers are Rs 995 a trip and running the business at the rates fixed by the PMC is not profitable to them. “The private tankers can provide the service at Rs 600 per trip only if the refilling stations are at convenient places and water is easily accessible to them,” Gondhale said.

... contd.