Board to regulate water tariff needed: Ravindra

Noting that the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) was spending more and earning less, Dr A Ravindra, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Urban Affairs, said setting up of a water regulatory authority could fix the problem.

Speaking at a workshop on ‘Strengthening participatory approaches in urban water supply and sewerage in Karnataka’, on Thursday, he said there has been no hike in water tariff in the past few years.

“A mismatch between water board’s expenditure and revenue necessitates regular hike in water tariff. The current water rates are likely to create a problem in the future,” he said.
On meeting the ever-growing demand for water in Bangalore, Ravindra discouraged dependence on Cauvery water alone to meet the drinking water needs.

Conservation

“People should be made aware of the importance of conserving water. If water conservation is not taken seriously, we are all in serious trouble. We will have to face a crisis akin to the current garbage menace,” he said.

Ravindra said the Karnataka government had to implement the rainwater harvesting with renewed vigour.

And for better compliance, he urged the State government to take stringent penal action against people who fail to instal rainwater harvesting system.