Bengaluru: BWSSB proposes to revise Cauvery water rates, suggests 30-40% hike

In a double whammy for Bengaluru residents already grappling with rising fuel costs, the government has signaled a forthcoming hike in Cauvery water rates. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has prepared a proposal to revise water tariffs for the first time in a decade. This move comes after repeated attempts to adjust the rates were previously rejected by the government.

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The proposed revision, which officials say is now almost certain, suggests a 30-40% increase for domestic consumers and a 45% hike for commercial users. This adjustment is deemed necessary to offset significant financial losses the BWSSB has incurred, primarily due to rising electricity costs, which have been revised more than ten times in the past decade. Despite these increases, the Cauvery water rates have remained unchanged since 2014, exacerbating the financial strain on the water board.

The BWSSB currently faces a daunting monthly electricity bill of 60-70 crore rupees, adding to the challenges of water management. Following the Lok Sabha elections, D.K. Shivakumar made the decision to move forward with the water rate revision, acknowledging the heavy losses and the inevitability of a price hike.

The water board management asserts that this rate revision is essential to sustain operations and manage the increasing costs effectively, emphasizing the need to balance revenue inflows with the escalating expenses of water management.