The Hindu : Front Page : Water tariff to remain same for now

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Monday, Aug 30, 2010
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Water tariff to remain same for now

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: Minister for Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and Housing Katta Subramanya Naidu said here on Sunday that “The proposal to increase water tariff cannot be implemented till the city gets more Cauvery water.”

The second phase of Cauvery IV Stage that is likely to be completed by October 2011 will enable the BWSSB to augment its supply by an additional 500 million litres of water per day (mld).

Speaking to presspersons after inspecting work on the second phase of Cauvery IV Stage at Tataguni, Harohalli and Thorekadanahalli (TK Halli), the Minister said: “Although the hike is inevitable as the BWSSB is incurring losses following the hike in power tariff.”

“It will not be feasible to implement it now. We will think of it only after the city gets more Cauvery water in October 2011,” he added.

Pointing out that the water-level in Thippagondanahalli (TG Halli) Reservoir that caters mainly to the western parts of the city had plummeted to 12.9 ft, the Minister said: “When we are not able to provide enough water, how can we hike the tariff?”

In April, after a visit to TK Halli, the Minister had announced a 33 per cent hike in water tariff to be implemented from May 1. But the proposal was kept in abeyance by the Cabinet after city MLAs objected to it.

The water board has not hiked charges in the last five years.

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