Water tariff may be hiked after Vijayadashami

BENGALURU: Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is in charge of Bengaluru development, has previously emphasised the need to increase water tariffs for financial reforms in the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). A meeting with 28 MLA’s from Bengaluru will soon be held to discuss water supply issues, tariffs and other problems.

Shivakumar is likely to chair the meeting next week or after Vijayadashami festival. As complaints about the water problems are being received from many assembly constituencies, some MLAs have called the BWSSB chairman and informed him about the issues plaguing their constituencies.

Ram Prasath Manohar V, chairman of water board, said, “Currently, BWSSB has the capacity to supply water to 70 lakh to 80 lakh people out of Bengaluru’s 1.45 crore population. The Cauvery 5th Stage project will benefit another 40-50 lakh people and 110 villages that were added to BBMP will receive water supply by the end of this month. There may be a hike of 15 per to 20 per cent  in the water tariff”.