Come January 1, residents of Salt Lake will have to pay for the water in their taps. This decision was taken at a chairman-in-council meeting held on Thursday. "Water tax is being levied to finance the upgrade of sewerage and drainage systems and other development projects,' said Tapas Chowdhury, sub-divisional officer and executive officer of Bidhannagar Municipality, West Bengal. The tax rates will differ for commercial and residential properties. Residential plot-owners, who pay a quarterly property tax up to Rs 500, will have to shell out Rs 30 per month as water tax. Those paying more will pay Rs 60 per month.