Fri Mar 14 16:58:21 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru to Consider Minimal Water Tariff Hike After Losses Exceed ₹1,000 Crore
**Bengaluru, March 14, 2025** – The Karnataka government is considering a minimal increase in Bengaluru’s water tariff, but only after consulting with city legislators. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar announced Friday that officials have been instructed to revise the tariff by at least one paise per litre of Cauvery water, the first increase since 2014. This follows a proposal from the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for a significantly larger seven to eight-paise hike due to mounting losses exceeding ₹1,000 crore annually.
Shivakumar emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing the water crisis facing the city, particularly with the onset of summer. Measures include taking over the operation of water tankers to combat what he called a “mafia” controlling the sector, replenishing Bengaluru’s lakes with treated water to improve groundwater levels, and exploring alternatives to the current, inefficient method of pumping Cauvery water from Torekadanahalli. He also announced a month-long water conservation campaign starting March 22nd.
Further initiatives to improve water availability include mandating that property owners keep the three-foot building setback open for water percolation, and addressing illegal water connections from developers. The government is also working to supply Cauvery water to 110 villages under the Cauvery 5th stage project. The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted the severity of last year’s summer, which saw nearly 7,000 borewells dry up.
First Piper 