Deccan Herald 20.11.2013
Water tariff revision on cards
City residents may have to shell out more for
water from December with Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board
(BWSSB) all set to come out with revised tariff this week.
Chief
Minister Siddaramaiah had last week asked the Board to go ahead with
tariff revision and on Monday, the BWSSB took up the issue at its
meeting.
The cost of maintaining water supply network,
expenditure incurred on salaries to employees and the projects executed
by taking loans were discussed at length by the members so as to get a
clear picture of the finances of the utility agency. According to
sources, the members sought some clarifications on certain aspects of
the tariff revision proposal.
BWSSB chairman M S Ravishankar said the proposal to hike tariff was a long-pending.
“There should be no hue and cry over the hike in water tariff. It has been delayed for many years now. The revised rates are likely to be decided on Thursday or Friday,” he said.
It was in 2005 that the BWSSB effected a marginal hike in the water rates. The earlier revision was in 2002 when Cauvery IV Stage Phase I was commissioned. According to sources in the BWSSB, the decision on hiking water tariff is usually taken at the Board level with the consent of the members. However, the previous government had made a minister in charge of the Board and hence it cannot take decisions on its own.
Hike deferred
Unlike the escoms, which have revised power tariff more than five times, the BWSSB cannot take such decisions. Besides, with the increasing demand for water in several parts of the City, the previous government had deferred the hike proposal several times.
BWSSB generates a monthly revenue of Rs 45 crore and spends around Rs 32 crore on power charges since Cauvery water gets pumped in three stages from a distance of 100 km (Thorekadanahalli). Water has to be pumped subsequently from various reservoirs for distribution. The rest of the revenue goes towards salaries and maintenance cost. Hike in tariff could ensure quality service, the source said.
