Most of interewees 'disapprove of price hike': journalist advisor

Li Shijie, a representative from a monthly periodical, China's Ethnic Groups, and also a political advisor, was one of the only two who spoke against the price hike.

"As a journalist, I have visited many needy and wealthy families and interviewed university professors on economic studies before the public hearing, and most of them disapproved of the price hike," he said.

"Economic leverage is not the sole solution to wasting water. The authorities should take into consideration of those residents who have long been aware of saving water in daily life," he said.

Zhu Yufeng, a resident representative from the Haidian District, also rejected the plan.

"Air pollution and environment pollution have lead to the decrease in water resources. That is an international issue. No matter how much money you have, you cannot buy water if a worldwide water crisis takes place," she said.

"On the other hand, industrial users and migrant populations have also driven up water consumption, so it is not proper for local residents alone to pay," she said.

During the hearing, many representatives also proposed the government gradually adopt a "tier pricing system", in which the unit price increased with each higher level of consumption.

"I think that is a reasonable system. It can protect the interests of low-income families and water-saving residents, and charge wasters more," said Shen Lenian, a representative from Tsinghua University and a strong supporter of the "tier pricing system."

He also put forward a specific plan based on the "tier pricing system."

The public hearing was held by the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission and was broadcast live on the commission's website, www.bjpc.gov.cn. The hearing lasted about three hours.

Beijing, a city of 17 million, has been plagued by droughts for nine consecutive years in the past decade.

Government data shows per capita water availability is only 300 cubic meters, far below the internationally recognized warning level of 1,000 cubic meters.

Over the past five years, Beijing has invested more than 4 billion yuan in water conservation and water supply projects.

Last month, the city raised the price of water for non-residential use by up to 48.6 percent.

Other Chinese cities are also planning or have agreed to raise water prices, including Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenyang, Guangzhou, Nanjing and Chongqing.

(Xinhua News Agency December 17, 2009)