Bengaluru’s Deputy Chief Minister, Shivakumar, recently announced that a decision regarding a water tariff hike will be made soon. After a meeting with Bengaluru civic officials at Cauvery Bhavan, he revealed that the water tariff has not been increased since 2014, resulting in a ₹1,000 crore annual loss for the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). “The electricity bill for the Board has surged from ₹35 crore to ₹75 crore,” he stated.
Shivakumar explained that the water tariff increase is now unavoidable, as the BWSSB is struggling to secure funding, with banks reluctant to offer loans due to the ongoing losses. Though the exact amount of the tariff hike is yet to be decided, the officials have been in discussions with all city MLAs, and a final decision will follow further deliberations.
He also emphasized that even the underprivileged should contribute a small token amount, such as one paise per liter, to help the Board measure water consumption accurately. The Minister reminded that the previous Congress government had allocated ₹20 crore for water provision to slums, but this initiative was halted under the BJP government.
Shivakumar assured that the scheme for the urban poor will be revived, and steps are underway to prevent water shortages this summer. He mentioned the BWSSB’s efforts to expedite the installation of new connections and regularize illegal water connections, ensuring all apartment complexes are connected to the Cauvery water system.
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