Bengaluru: Water tariff hike on cards? Crucial meeting to decide soon, say sources

Bengaluru: Following the recent hike in BMTC bus ticket prices, indications suggest that the government may soon revise water tariffs. Sources from the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) revealed that a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is likely to be held next week to discuss the matter.

The BWSSB has submitted a proposal to the government to revise water charges, citing severe financial constraints. Letters have already been sent to all Bengaluru MLAs informing them of the board’s financial difficulties and emphasizing the need for a tariff hike.

Discussions on how much the rates should be increased are expected during the upcoming meeting, which will be chaired by the Deputy CM and attended by concerned representatives and officials. A clearer picture is likely to emerge by the end of January, according to sources.

BWSSB Chairman’s Letter to Representatives

BWSSB Chairman Dr. Ram Prasath Manohar stated that operational and maintenance costs for water supply and sewerage systems have doubled over the years. Despite this, water tariffs have not been revised for over a decade due to various reasons. On December 2, he wrote to Bengaluru’s elected representatives, urging them to support the tariff revision proposal during the forthcoming meeting with D.K. Shivakumar.

Manohar pointed out that the current revenue from water charges, fixed in 2014, is insufficient to meet today’s operational expenses. He warned that without a revision, BWSSB would struggle to maintain its daily operations and implement necessary technological upgrades.

“The decision to hike water charges has not yet been finalized. A meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister will be convened soon to address this issue,” said Dr. Ram Prasath Manohar, Chairman, BWSSB.