Apartment owners protest hike in water cess

The Bangalore Apartments Federation (BAF), which was formed on September 15, has called for more apartment associations to join  the fight to reduce water charges.

The federation is set to address the grievances pertaining to the hike in water tariff which was effected on June 13. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had hiked water and sanitary tariff exponentially for all multi-storey buildings and central and State government housing complexes and villas.

BAF seeks to address the two issues of the unprecedented increase and discrimination shown to the apartment dwellers by the government.

“This is unfair rise in charges by BWSSB. We will try to reason with them and hopefully make them realise the impact this is going to have on the citizens of Bangalore and thereby impact Bangalore’s attractiveness as a City to live in,” said S Venkata, president, BAF.

The increase is a minimum of Rs 193 in addition to the earlier charges of Rs 63, which amounts to more than 300 per cent addition to water bills.

The federation has given a call for submission of a memorandum to the chairman of BWSSB, appealing to withdraw the hike.