The Delhi Jal Board today increased water and sewer development charges significantly, which will mainly affect residents in unauthorised colonies and areas where sewer lines have been laid recently or will be laid in the near future.

A meeting of the Delhi Jal Board, chaired by chief minister Sheila Dikshit, increased the water development charges to Rs 405 per square metre from existing Rs 329, while sewer development charges have been hiked to Rs 455 per sq metre from Rs 369.

A DJB official said the new rates will be applicable in areas where sewer lines have been laid recently or for those areas where it will be laid in the near future.

As DJB has been laying sewer lines in over 1,600 unauthorised colonies, which are being regularised, residents of these colonies will be mostly affected.

The board meeting approved the construction of a 9 MGD sewage treatment plant on Gazipur drain.

After the construction of the plant, the dirty water flowing through Gazipur drain will be diverted to the plant and treated before being discharged into the drain.

The board also approved a proposal to provide sewerage services in urban village Samay Pur at an estimated cost of Rs 11.16 crore.

At the meeting, approval was given for rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of the 40 MGD, phase-II, Rithala sewage treatment plant at a total cost of Rs 84.50 lakh.

The board meeting also approved transfer of land to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation against payment of Rs 3.89 lakh towards the cost of land to DJB for a 715.48 sq metre near the Sarita Vihar Metro Station on Mathura Road.