The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has rolled out a new instalment-based payment scheme for housing societies and apartment associations. This scheme, aimed at boosting the city’s water supply network, is designed to make it easier for communities not yet connected to the city’s Cauvery water system to gain access to piped water.
For years, many apartment complexes and housing societies have struggled to secure a reliable water supply in the face of Bangalore’s growing urbanisation. While the city’s central water network, powered by Cauvery water, provides relief to many residents, several localities, particularly those in newly developed areas, have had to rely on alternative sources like borewells or tankers. The introduction of this new payment scheme marks a significant step toward addressing the city’s ongoing water shortage issues, bringing long-term solutions to communities that have faced barriers to connection.
Under the newly introduced scheme, apartment associations and housing societies will have the flexibility to pay the connection fees in instalments. This makes the process more affordable and accessible, particularly for smaller housing societies that may have found the upfront costs of setting up the connection prohibitive. The instalment option significantly eases the financial burden, allowing these communities to gradually pay for the infrastructure needed to connect to the Cauvery water supply.
The move is a part of the BWSSB’s broader initiative to modernise Bangalore’s water distribution system and ensure that no part of the city is left without reliable access to clean drinking water. The scheme aims to encourage apartment complexes, which have traditionally been underserved, to join the city’s water supply network, helping to reduce dependence on private water sources that are often unreliable and expensive.
The cost of installing a water connection and the infrastructure necessary to connect to the BWSSB’s network can be considerable, especially for larger apartment complexes. In the past, this has been a significant barrier for communities to access public water resources. The new scheme, however, offers a way forward by providing flexibility in payment terms, which could lead to broader participation from underconnected areas.
This initiative not only addresses immediate water access issues but also contributes to the city’s broader sustainability goals. By connecting more housing societies to the city’s central water supply, Bangalore can reduce its overall reliance on groundwater extraction, helping to preserve natural resources and ensure that water is distributed more equitably across all regions of the city.
While the scheme is seen as a positive step toward ensuring greater equity in access to public utilities, there are still concerns about the long-term sustainability of Bangalore’s water supply. The city’s rapid growth, coupled with climate change-induced water stress, poses ongoing challenges in meeting the water demands of its expanding population. However, initiatives like this one, which encourage more comprehensive infrastructure development, can be a crucial part of the solution.
The instalment payment plan also complements the city’s broader agenda of creating sustainable urban spaces. In a time when the emphasis on eco-friendly, zero-net carbon cities has never been more pressing, such schemes provide a model for how urban centres can expand critical services in a manner that is both financially accessible and environmentally responsible.
The BWSSB’s new scheme is expected to increase participation among Bangalore’s housing communities, ensuring that even areas previously neglected in terms of water supply infrastructure are now included in the city’s water network. As the scheme rolls out, it is likely that other cities grappling with similar water access issues may look to Bangalore’s approach as a viable solution for their own communities.
Bangalore Piped Water Expansion Gets a Boost
