Home>News Center>China
       
 

Jump in water prices stayed
By Li Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-07-02 01:35

The eyebrow-raising proposal to raise Beijing's water prices by 30 per cent that were to go into effect Thursday still have not gotten the nod from the municipal government, according to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform.

Wang Jingshan, a press officer with the commission, said the implementation of the price hikes will probably be postponed for a couple of months, but declined to state the reason.

The proposals, put forward by the Beijing Water Bureau, the Beijing Water Group Co Ltd and the Beijing Drainage Group Co Ltd, were made public on June 3 when the commission held a public hearing.

According to the proposed plan, water prices for residents would be raised from 2.9 yuan (35 US cents) per ton to 3.7 yuan (45 US cents) per ton starting July 1.

Meanwhile, water-guzzling businesses were to face dramatic price hikes,ranging from three to 15 times what they had previously paid.

For instance, commercial businesses such as spas, saunas and massage centers are expected to pay as much as 100 yuan (US$12) per ton instead of the existing 10 yuan (US$1.2) per ton.

The proposals also introduced a system that had variations in fees charged based on residents' water consumption habits.

Under the new system, people who use water within a certain quota can pay at the basic price, and those who consume more water than average would pay more -- probably up to five times more for the extra water.

The price hikes stirred heated debate among residents.

Some people argued that the 30 per cent fee increases impose too heavy a burden to low-income groups, to whom paying around 40 yuan (US$4.8) per month on water is a large expenditure.

They said 40 yuan-worth of water can only meet the smallest water consumption for a three-member family.

Other people questioned whether price hikes will really encourage people to save water.

The thirsty city has already raised water rates eight times since 1991 when the water price per ton was merely 0.12 yuan (less than 2 US cents).

However, officials with the development and reform commission estimate the price hike this time, especially adopting the variable charging system, should reduce residents' water consumption by around 6 per cent.

Although people express varied concerns on the efficiency and justification of the price hikes, the debate itself has attracted more people to pay attention to the city's severe water crisis.

Beijing has been caught by drought for six years in a row since 1998.

The lack of rain has seen the water level of many rivers, lakes and reservoirs down to their lowest points in history.

Liu Zhiqi, secretary-general of the Beijing Water Association, said the water level of Miyun Reservoir, Beijing's lifeline, is dangerously low.

"The two rivers entering the reservoir injected just 18 per cent of the water this year that they have in years of abundance, and the water level of the reservoir is 20 metres lower because of successive drought years," said Liu.

Wang Jingshan said the ninth price hike, as stated in the proposals, would surely be carried out within this year.

He added that the city's general water price would continue to climb up to 6 yuan (73 US cents) per ton in a couple of years, which is proposed in a long-term plan on the capital city's sustainable water usage.



 
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

Officials punished for SARS virus leak

 

   
 

Officials foretell new futures markets

 

   
 

Koguryo sites put on heritage list

 

   
 

New vehicle emission standards formulated

 

   
 

Jump in water prices stayed

 

   
 

Official misusing school funds to be removed

 

   
  Jump in water prices stayed
   
  Official misusing school funds to be removed
   
  World Carnival opens in Beijing
   
  New vehicle emission standards formulated
   
  Koguryo sites put on heritage list
   
  Weather in space now for all to see
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  News Talk  
  When will china have direct elections?  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 热99re久久精品2久久久| 91色在线观看| 婷婷综合五月天| 久久久久久亚洲精品成人| 欧美亚洲国产精品久久第一页| 亚洲精品自在在线观看| 精品免费国产一区二区三区| 国产乱子经典视频在线观看| 久久久亚洲精品国产| 欧美人与zxxxx与另类| 亚洲精品乱码久久久久久自慰| 神马重口味456| 午夜香港三级在线观看网| 色综合久久91| 国产视频福利在线| mm131美女爱做视频在线看| 成人字幕网视频在线观看| 久久久亚洲欧洲日产国码aⅴ| 最好看的2018中文字幕高清的| 又粗又长又色又爽视频| 调教家政妇第38话无删减| 国产成人艳妇aa视频在线 | 久久天天躁狠狠躁夜夜躁2020| 老司机亚洲精品| 国产丰满肥熟在线观看| 风流女护土一级毛片| 国产成人综合在线视频| 亚洲情综合五月天| 国产精品bbwbbwbbw| h在线观看视频免费网站| 成人免费草草视频| 亚洲国产成人99精品激情在线| 波多野结衣巨女教师6| 伦理eeuss| 猴哥影院在线播放视频| 你懂的在线视频| 狠狠躁日日躁夜夜躁2022麻豆| 伊人久久精品午夜| 特级aaaaaaaaa毛片免费视频| 亲密爱人免费观看完整版| 特级做a爰片毛片免费看无码|