Coimbatore : The City Corporation Commissioner, Shravan Kumar Jatavath on Wednesday allayed fears about the increase in the drinking water charges after implementation of 24 X 7 supply project by French firm, Suez.

Replying to the questions raised by the general public on the issue, during a grievances meeting, Jatavath said that there was no cause for worry about the increase in the rates as made out from certain quarters.

Stating that the corporation will continue to collect the existing water charges even if Suez is supplying water, he said that as a pilot project, it is being implemented in R S Puram area.

Almost all the political parties and women’s organisations had taken objection to the project of privatising the water supply, as it will put the population, particularly those drawing water on roadsides, into lot of hardship.

Jatavath also said that the corporation is forming a three-member panel to monitor the installation of rainwater harvesting systems in all the houses coming under the 100 wards and the residents are being given time till August 15 to construct the RWH structures failing which action will be taken against them.

The grievances meeting was held after a gap of four years and the corporation is organising such meeting in wards tomorrow and day after. A total of 61 petitions were received citing various problems.