Putting the onus on citizens to be more careful with water usage, DK Shivakumar claimed that a lot of people are using drinking water to wash livestock and to water gardens.
Published Mar 16, 2025 | 10:26 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 16, 2025 | 10:26 AM
Water tanker in Bengaluru.
Synopsis: The Karnataka government is planning to hike the water tariff in Bengaluru by one paise per litre. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar also said that the government will take over the private water tankers.
After more than 10 years, the Karnataka government is taking steps to increase the price of water in Bengaluru. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also holds the portfolio of Bengaluru Development, said that the government was planning to hike the water tariff by one paise per litre.
“Water tariff in Bengaluru has not been revised since 2014. In view of the losses, BWSSB has proposed a hike of seven to eight paise per litre. But I have told them that it was too much. The government is contemplating a one paise hike per litre. We will discuss it with MLAs from the city and take a decision,” he said.
The deputy chief minister was replying to Congress MLC Ramoji Gowda who urged the government to ensure the Cauvery water supply to houses at the earliest in view of the approaching summer.
“We had a difficult year last year. As many as 7,000 borewells had dried up and the government had to take over private water tankers. We have executed Cauvery 5th stage, which is providing water to 110 villages. Since 22 March, the World Water Conservation Day, the government has decided to observe a month-long campaign to create awareness about water conservation,” Shivakumar said.
The deputy chief minister targeted builders who, he said, have built large apartments but have not paid deposits to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). He alleged they have taken connections illegally and hence the government has issued notices to them.
Speaking on water scarcity during summer and the water tanker mafia, he said, “The government will be taking over water tankers this summer too. The water tanker business has become a mafia. We have also decided to fill all the lakes with treated water in order to recharge the groundwater. Cauvery 6th stage plan is also ready.”
Putting the onus on citizens to be more careful with water usage, he claimed that a lot of people are using drinking water to wash livestock and to water gardens.
“Many of them are covering the bare ground with concrete which affects water absorption. We will take action on these things. The water conservation month will create awareness about all these things,” he added.
Following the announcement, the Opposition BJP in the state took potshots at the government that price hikes were the only guarantee for the citizens.
“That is the only guarantee which you can expect from the present Congress government and Siddaramaiah government. In the last 20 months, price hike is the only guarantee which the Siddaramaiah government has given to the people of Karnataka.”
However, state Law Minister HK Patil defended the government’s decision citing market dynamics.
“How many times was petrol price raised in India? How many times was the diesel price raised in India? How often the fertiliser rates were increased in India? Are they not looking at that? They must understand what is happening, what is market dynamics,” he said.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
