Government agencies are emerging as the principal defaulters in pending payments to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), accumulating substantial arrears. The situation has reached a critical point, with the State Government leading the list of defaulters, owing a staggering ₹287.91 crore across 658 connections. The Defence Department follows with an outstanding ₹35.99 crore for 46 connections, while the Central Government’s arrears stand at ₹25.70 crore for 194 connections. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), with its 493 connections, has accrued ₹23.14 crore in unpaid bills. Statutory bodies contribute significantly as well, with 154 connections totalling ₹10.48 crore in arrears.
Other entities, accounting for 4,960 connections, collectively owe ₹480.07 crore. The overall outstanding amount for the BWSSB has now reached ₹663.32 crore across 497,000 connections. In response to this burgeoning debt, BWSSB officials are contemplating the introduction of a One-Time Settlement (OTS) scheme aimed at recovering these dues. This initiative would permit defaulters to settle their outstanding amounts in full while offering a waiver on accrued interest. The proposal for this scheme is set to be submitted to the government for approval. If implemented, the OTS scheme could significantly bolster BWSSB’s revenue by clearing substantial arrears.
In a related development, the State Government has extended the deadline for the BBMP’s OTS scheme for property tax defaulters to September 30. Originally intended to conclude on July 31, this scheme allows property tax defaulters to clear their dues in a single payment, benefiting from a 50% waiver on penalties and a full waiver on interest. The extension follows a tepid initial response, with only 1.14 lakh properties settling ₹380 crore out of the ₹956.09 crore targeted. Consequently, 3.04 lakh properties remain with unpaid taxes amounting to ₹831.53 crore.
The extension aligns with requests from various organisations and defaulters seeking additional time for settlement, reflecting a broader trend in the government’s efforts to manage arrears effectively. As BWSSB prepares to launch its OTS scheme, it underscores the urgent need for effective measures to address the significant backlog in water bill payments and improve fiscal management.
