After fuel prices, Bengaluru to hike water tariffs? Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar weighs in

While addressing concerns about the potential increase in water tariffs in Bengaluru, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said that rates have remained unchanged for the past 10 years despite financial losses.

He emphasised the need for new projects and highlighted the challenges in securing financing from banks for the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).

Shivakumar said, "The water tariff has not been increased in Bengaluru in the last 10 years. There has been a great loss. We have to take new projects. No bank is coming forward to finance the BWSSB. Every year we are suffering the big loss."


Shivakumar instructed officials to thoroughly evaluate the situation, stating that decisions will be made transparently based on factual analysis before being made public.

Fuel price surge

Earlier, Karnataka government hiked sales tax on fuel which will make petrol and diesel costlier. In a notification issued by the Finance Department, the government has hiked sales tax on petrol by 3.92 percentage points, from 25.92 to 29.84 per cent.

On diesel, the hike is 4.1 percentage points, from 14.34 to 18.44 per cent.

The decision came days after the Lok Sabha poll results, in which NDA got 19 out of 28 seats in Karnataka, with BJP winning 17 and JD(S) with 2. The ruling Congress in the state has won nine seats.

The move, aimed at resource mobilisation, comes after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is also the finance minister, reviewed the state's revenue generation and fiscal position.

During the meeting, the CM asked officials to work harder towards meeting revenue collection targets.

Hitting out at the government, Karnataka BJP president B Y Vijayendra urged the chief minister to roll back the hike in petrol and diesel prices, as he threatened a state wide protest by the party on Monday, at all district centres.