Steep water tariff hike for bulk users

Residents of Carleston Nest, a 10-flat apartment on Lloyd Road, Cox Town, got a shock after their water bill for July shot up 171 per cent.

Reason: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had quietly issued a government notification on June 13, 2013, increasing water and sanitation charges for bulk consumers, including residents of high-rises, multi-storey buildings, villas and government housing complexes.

Water tariff was revised from Rs 6 per kilo litre (for up to 8,000 litres) to Rs 19 per kilo litre. Besides, the BWSSB also increased sanitation charges by 20 per cent of the water bill or a minimum of Rs 100 per flat. The earlier rate was 20 per cent of the bill or Rs 15 per flat, whichever was lower.

“The water bill we received in the first week of July has shot up to Rs 4,687 from Rs 1,730 in June. This is the result of an unannounced circular issued by the BWSSB,” said a resident of Carleston Nest. “Our apartment normally receives water bills in the first week of the month. We were shocked to see the steep hike in the bill. It was only after I visited the BWSSB office in my area that I learnt about the circular.

This is totally unacceptable.”
He said though their water consumption for July was less (193 kilo litres) than June (202 kilo litres), they would end up paying much more. The sanitary charges, too, has shot up to Rs 1,000 as against Rs 150 in June. This hike was part of the circular.

This apart, many apartment dwellers who mainly depend on bore wells for water, will have to shell out more as the BWSSB has increased bore well charges for bulk consumers.

T Venkataraju, engineer-in-chief, BWSSB, said it was a five-year-old proposal made by the Board. The government notification was issued recently. “The revised rates will be applicable for bulk generators from July as per the circular. There might be a steep increase for a few apartment dwellers, but for many others, the water tariff will definitely be less than what they were paying,” he added.