Water cost may increase up to Rs 60 per can

Though members from Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufacturers Association denied such a demand for cans, they said there is a possibility for dealers in the coming days to sell a can at a price ranging between Rs 55 and Rs 60. 

Usually, the demand increases from March to May. Further, around 75 lakh cans are being sold in Chennai and suburbs every day. 

Considering the grave situation, the dealers are using the opportunity and they already have raised the prices by Rs 5 to Rs 10 in some parts of the city. 

The cost of the 20-litre canned water usually ranges from Rs 30 to Rs 45. “I usually buy canned water at Rs 45, but I am now paying Rs 50. It has become routine for dealers to use the summer as excuse and raise prices,” said S Kannadhasan, who stays in a mansion in West Mambalam. A Saravanan, a dealer in Koyambedu, said that he sold around 1,000 cans during normal days. 

“But, there will be 50 percentage rise in demand and I am making the cost higher from Rs 5 to Rs 10. Because, when demand is high, we need more workers and additional trips and I have to bear the expenditure,” he said. 

Meanwhile, D Suresh Kumar, secretary of Tamil Nadu Packaged Drinking Water Manufactures Association, told DTNext that there was always a wrong perception among the public regarding their industry. 

“We sell 20-litre canned water for Rs 10 to the dealers. But, the dealers bear the expenditure like transportation and wages for workers. So they sell to the consumers from Rs 35 to Rs 45. During summer, demand would be high and some dealers might sell for more. However, we are monitoring,” he said.