Bengaluru: “My family of four depends on the income from small snacks centre that I run. Despite my low earnings, my hotel is considered a commercial establishment and I pay high water charges every month. How will people who belong to my income group survive?” asks Mahesh, a hotelier in Chikkalasandra.
For many small-time businessmen like Mahesh and lakhs of citizens aspiring for Cauvery water connections, the BWSSB’s proposal to increase the pro-rata charges is a big blow. To supply drinking water and sanitary connections, the Board charges a one-time service fee as pro-rata charges. The BWSSB has proposed to increase this service fee by 67 per cent to apartment complexes and a whopping 100 per cent to commercial establishments. This simply means that those wanting Cauvery water will have pay at least Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000 more depending on the site dimension.
When the new rate comes into effect, individual homes, apartment complexes and commercial establishments will pay Rs 250, Rs 400 and Rs 600 per sq.mt respectively. The existing price is Rs 150 per square metre for individual houses, Rs 200 for multi-storeyed apartment buildings and Rs 300 for commercial establishments. The only relief will be to those who will build ground plus one floor as they will not come under the revised charges.
While the BWSSB justified the price hike under the pretext that the last time the charges were increased in 2008, citizens and experts termed the hike unscientific. D.S Rajashekar, president, Citizen Action Forum, said, “Many pockets in East Bengaluru get Cauvery water supply only once in a week though we are told we will get water thrice in a week. Now, many people are struggling to get water connections from many years. They don’t even know what it means to get Cauvery water. Why this steep and unscientific increase?”
Dr Kshitij Urs of People’s Campaign for Right to Water condemned the hike and stressed that many large industries walk scot-free without paying for water, while small shopkeepers bear the brunt. “One must not be given privilege over another. Why target residents’ of apartment complexes alone. It’s an unfair hike and water has to be socialized, not commercialized,” he said.
