Water supply charges should be revised soon for the economic stability of the National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB), Minister of City Planning and Water Supply Rauff Hakeem said.

He said a litre of bottled drinking water is sold at Rs. 60 while the NWSDB is providing 1,000 litres to the people at a price of Rs.12.

“The NWSDB bears a huge cost for purification and distribution of water, so it is impossible to provide water at such a low price,” he added.

Minister Hakeem made these remarks yesterday in Pothuhera, Kurunegala participating at the ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the Polgahawela, Pothuhera and Alawwa Integrated Water Supply Project.

It will be providing drinking water for over 167,700 beneficiaries in 167 Grama Seva divisions in Polgahawela, Kurunegala, Weerambugedara, Alawwa, and Mallawapitiya Divisional Secretariat divisions in Kurunegala District.

The estimated cost of the project is USD 108 million, of which USD 91.8 million is funded by the EXIM Bank of India while Bank of Ceylon will provide USD 16.2 million and Government of Sri Lanka will provide Rs. 4,547.8 million.

The total expected cost of the project is Rs 20, 207 million. The Contractor of the project is VA-TECH WABAG Limited, India.

(GID)