Bengaluru residents may soon face a water tariff hike as the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) looks to recover mounting financial losses. Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D K Shivakumar has directed officials to submit a report on the long-pending tariff revision before a final decision is made.
Speaking after a meeting with officials from BBMP, BDA, BWSSB, and BMRDA at Cauvery Bhavan, Shivakumar said, “The water tariff has remained unchanged since 2014, leading to annual losses of Rs 1,000 crore for BWSSB. The board’s electricity bill alone has nearly doubled from Rs 35 crore to Rs 75 crore, and monthly losses stand at around Rs 85 crore.”
Water Tariff Hike Inevitable
The minister emphasized that BWSSB is struggling to secure loans due to its financial instability. “BWSSB has already discussed the issue with city MLAs. Without a tariff revision, the board will continue to face difficulties in raising funds,” he stated.
To support the urban poor, Shivakumar announced the revival of a Rs 20 crore scheme to provide water to slums. However, he stressed the need to measure and regulate water supply, saying, “Water supplied to slums is often misused. We will implement a system to collect accurate data and regularize illegal connections.”
Measures to Prevent Water Shortages
With summer approaching, Shivakumar instructed officials to ensure adequate water supply across Bengaluru by expediting the filling of reservoirs to recharge groundwater.
Additionally, under the Cauvery 5th Stage project, 15,000 new water connections have been issued, with another 20,000 pending. The government has also mandated apartment complexes to take Cauvery water connections, as many have avoided doing so to evade deposits and fees. “Officials are now visiting every house and apartment to encourage residents to take legal connections,” Shivakumar added.
The BWSSB’s final decision on the tariff revision is expected soon, with officials working on a comprehensive report to justify the hike.