'We cannot increase tax on water consumption:' company head

Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb.13 / Trend corr, S. Babayeva /

Azersu cannot increase taxes on water, company head Nizameddin Rzayev said on Feb.13. The comment came after Sumgayitelektrikshebeke notified the company that it plans to suspend energy to Azersu's pumps until its debt is paid. The pumps provide water to 70 percent of the Sumgayit and Binagadi districts.       

"We can't collect taxes from citizens in debt," Rzayev said.  

Rzayev said residents consume 80 percent of the water in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula.

"We are doing our berst to resolve this problem and reach an understanding in terms of paying the debt," he said.

In January 2009, Azersu paid 515,000 manat to Sumgayitelektrikshebeke and 134,000 manat in January 2008.

Rzayev said Azersu owes 45.1 million manat to Sumgayitelektrikshebeke.