<p>Bengaluru: The state government has decided to increase the tariff on water supplied by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) by one paisa per litre, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in the state legislature on Friday. Although the BWSSB wanted the tariff raised by six to seven paise per litre, the government has decided against such a steep hike.</p>.<p>Replying to a query from Congress member Ramoji Gowda during Zero Hour, Shivakumar said, “Water tariff has remained unchanged since 2014. BWSSB has been incurring a loss of Rs 1,000 crore annually owing to rise in power and other costs. So, we have no option but to raise the water tariff.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Deputy CM, who holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, said that he would convene a meeting of all MLAs of the state capital in the run-up to the presentation of the BWSSB’s budget.</p>.‘We have achieved our vision of making Bengaluru water-surplus,' says BWSSB Chairman.<p class="bodytext">Conceding that Karnataka faced a challenge in 2024 owing to the drying up of 7,000 borewells across the state, Shivakumar said, “The state government took over private water tankers. We have since executed the Cauvery 5th Stage project, which supplies water to 110 villages. To mark Water Conservation Day on March 22, the government has decided to launch a month-long campaign to raise awareness.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivakumar added that the government would take over water tankers this summer as well. Pointing out that the water tanker business was a ‘mafia’, he added, “We have also decided to fill all lakes with treated water to recharge groundwater reserves, and the plan for the Cauvery 6th Stage project is also ready.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Some builders who constructed large apartment complexes had not paid deposits to the BWSSB, and have been drawing water through illegal connections, he said, adding that notices had been served on them.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Deputy CM also cautioned people against using drinking water to wash livestock or watering gardens. Lamenting the practice of concretisation that had impacted water percolation, Shivakumar said that the government would raise awareness about all these problems.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivakumar also trained his guns at Bengaluru city MLAs, whom he charged with blackmail, adding that they were constantly urging the government to allocate Rs 800 crore for the city.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile, BJP MLC C T Ravi, and his party colleagues, in a lighter moment in the House, asked the reason behind Shivakumar’s “happy look” on Friday, given that the Deputy CM had hosted a dinner for Congress leaders on Thursday. “Pleasing people is equal to worshipping Lord Shiva,” quipped the Deputy CM in response.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Asked if he would host a big dinner for leaders of all parties, Shivakumar said, “I have been climbing the political ladder step by step since 1984, but my growth was scuttled by the BJP that conspired to send me to Tihar.”</p>
<p>Bengaluru: The state government has decided to increase the tariff on water supplied by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) by one paisa per litre, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in the state legislature on Friday. Although the BWSSB wanted the tariff raised by six to seven paise per litre, the government has decided against such a steep hike.</p>.<p>Replying to a query from Congress member Ramoji Gowda during Zero Hour, Shivakumar said, “Water tariff has remained unchanged since 2014. BWSSB has been incurring a loss of Rs 1,000 crore annually owing to rise in power and other costs. So, we have no option but to raise the water tariff.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Deputy CM, who holds the Bengaluru Development portfolio, said that he would convene a meeting of all MLAs of the state capital in the run-up to the presentation of the BWSSB’s budget.</p>.‘We have achieved our vision of making Bengaluru water-surplus,' says BWSSB Chairman.<p class="bodytext">Conceding that Karnataka faced a challenge in 2024 owing to the drying up of 7,000 borewells across the state, Shivakumar said, “The state government took over private water tankers. We have since executed the Cauvery 5th Stage project, which supplies water to 110 villages. To mark Water Conservation Day on March 22, the government has decided to launch a month-long campaign to raise awareness.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivakumar added that the government would take over water tankers this summer as well. Pointing out that the water tanker business was a ‘mafia’, he added, “We have also decided to fill all lakes with treated water to recharge groundwater reserves, and the plan for the Cauvery 6th Stage project is also ready.”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Some builders who constructed large apartment complexes had not paid deposits to the BWSSB, and have been drawing water through illegal connections, he said, adding that notices had been served on them.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The Deputy CM also cautioned people against using drinking water to wash livestock or watering gardens. Lamenting the practice of concretisation that had impacted water percolation, Shivakumar said that the government would raise awareness about all these problems.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Shivakumar also trained his guns at Bengaluru city MLAs, whom he charged with blackmail, adding that they were constantly urging the government to allocate Rs 800 crore for the city.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile, BJP MLC C T Ravi, and his party colleagues, in a lighter moment in the House, asked the reason behind Shivakumar’s “happy look” on Friday, given that the Deputy CM had hosted a dinner for Congress leaders on Thursday. “Pleasing people is equal to worshipping Lord Shiva,” quipped the Deputy CM in response.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Asked if he would host a big dinner for leaders of all parties, Shivakumar said, “I have been climbing the political ladder step by step since 1984, but my growth was scuttled by the BJP that conspired to send me to Tihar.”</p>