BWSSB to hike water tariff in Bengaluru after submission of report

BWSSB to implement water tariff hike in Bangalore after 11 years, aiming to address financial losses and improve water management.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), in all likelihood, will implement the long-pending water tariff hike in the city as Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar has directed officials to submit a report on the proposed hike.

Talking to the media after a meeting with BBMP, BDA, BWSSB, and BMRDA officials at Cauvery Bhavan on Tuesday, Mr. Shivakumar said, “The report will be reviewed, and necessary action will be taken soon to implement the hike. Measures will also be introduced to regularise illegal water connections and ensure accurate accounting of water usage.”

Highlighting the financial losses incurred by the BWSSB, Mr Shivakumar stated that the city’s water tariff has not been hiked for the past 11 years, leading to an annual loss of ₹1,000 crores for the board. The electricity bill alone, which used to be ₹35 crore, has now surged to ₹75 crore. Including other operational costs, the monthly deficit amounts to ₹85 crore.

“There is an inevitable need to increase water charges. BWSSB has consulted city legislators about this. Moreover, banks are reluctant to provide loans for water network expansion, citing the board’s financial losses. Even organisations like Japan International Cooperation demand repayment assurances before extending support,” he added.

He further assured that subsidies for the urban poor would continue, reinstating the ₹20 crore assistance stopped by the previous BJP government. “While water supply will continue for the underprivileged, every drop must be accounted for. Even if it’s as little as one paisa per litre, the government must know how much water is being used,” he said.

Accurate data on usage and regularisation

He also emphasised the need for a comprehensive system to track water usage across different categories, including slums, residential complexes, and affluent households. “Every illegal connection must be regularised. Public awareness campaigns will also be launched to encourage residents to obtain legal water connections,” he said.