Water tariffs may go up any day now as the Bangalore Water Supply and
Sewerage Board (BWSSB) on Monday prepared a report with justifications
sought by the Chief Minister to allow a price hike. The BWSSB’s report,
based on the need to shore up its finances, is likely to be placed
before the Chief Minster soon.

According to sources, the BWSSB had
held a board meeting on Monday to prepare the justification for
revising the water tariff and had prepared a report to convince the CM
on the need to revise waters tariffs.

According to the report, the
BWSSB generated a monthly income of Rs 46-50 crore and its expenditure
exceeded Rs 80 crore, which included monthly electricity charges of Rs
36 crore, establishment charges of Rs 10 crore, interest on various
loans taken by the board and repayment of these loans in installments.

The
water tariff was last revised in 2005 and since then, the power tariff
was revised various times. Therefore, BWSSB faces a revenue deficit of
Rs 30-35 crore. Unless the water tariff is revised at the earliest, the
Board’s finances would be severely affected, officials said.

The
BWSSB had requested the Chief Minister to allow it to revise the water
tariff following which he sought a report justifying the hike.