BWSSB’ s one-time settlement scheme to benefit over 6.2 lakh Cauvery water consumers

Bengaluru water board will waive ₹299 crore in interest and penalties under a 90-day OTS scheme aimed at clearing long-pending Cauvery water bill arrears.

More than 6.2 lakh Cauvery water consumers in Bengaluru are set to benefit from a one-time settlement (OTS) scheme announced by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). Under the scheme, interest and penalty charges amounting to ₹299 crore on long-pending water bills will be completely waived.

The beneficiaries include around 5.3 lakh residential connections, 48,000 commercial establishments, and several state and central government offices that have accumulated arrears over the years. According to BWSSB data, the total outstanding dues from these consumers stand at ₹833.1 crore, of which the board aims to recover ₹534.1 crore as principal amount through the settlement.

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The state cabinet has approved the OTS scheme, which has been designed on the lines of the property tax arrears settlement implemented earlier under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). Officials said the initiative is intended to ease the financial burden on consumers while improving revenue recovery for the water board.

Bengaluru currently has about 15 to 16 lakh Cauvery water connections, and more than 6.2 lakh of them have pending dues, some dating back several years. BWSSB believes the waiver of interest and penalties will encourage defaulters to clear their dues within the stipulated period.

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The scheme will be launched shortly by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and will remain in force for 90 days from the date of launch. Consumers will be required to pay only the principal amount during this period to settle their arrears.

BWSSB officials have urged eligible consumers to make use of the scheme to regularise their water connections and avoid future penalties.