Start paying more for water from next month. Bangalore water supply minister Katta Subramanya Naidu on Friday said the water hike is effective from April 1.
“This is a retrospective move. The hike will be implemented in May 1 billing. But we have to get a cabinet approval for implementing this. We are confident that we will get the approval within a week,” he said.
Naidu said the hike will be between 33% and 200%, based on utilisation. High-end users will have to pay more and families below poverty line will have to pay less.
“The hike is proportionate to the usage of water. Those falling under the minimum slab will have to pay Rs36. The slabs are being revised and the new one will have six to seven slabs,” said PB Ramamurthy, chairman, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).
However, he refused to divulge details on the revised slabs and rates. “It will be made public after the cabinet approval,” he said.
Stating the reasons for the hike, Naidu said the BWSSB spends Rs33 per kilolitre of water to supply. But it recovers only Rs9 per kilolitre of water. “In 2002 and 2005, the water tariff was slightly increased with the increase in power tariff. But since 2005, there has been no hike in water tariff. The water board is facing a depreciation of 176.93% in revenue,” he said.
He said while the BWSSB spends Rs100 crore every month, the recovery is only Rs48 crore, losing Rs52 crore in the bargain.
Besides, it is spending Rs2,500 crore for the pipeline work in TK Halli, Rs1,000 crore for sewerage treatment plants, Rs800 crore for zero sewerage project and Rs1,000 crore for 1,000 million litres of water per day.
For Bangalore, the BWSSB spends nearly Rs6,000 crore.
“The cost now has to be borne by the people. We cannot supply water under loss,” he said.
