In a significant move to promote sustainable water usage, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has broadened the reach of its popular 'Sarala Cauvery' EMI scheme. Previously available only for residential homes and apartments, the easy-payment plan is now open to commercial establishments across the city.
EMI Scheme Details and Expansion
The initiative is designed to encourage property owners to switch to the municipal piped water supply and reduce the city's heavy dependence on groundwater. Under the scheme, applicants can secure a Cauvery water connection by paying a 20% down payment, with the remaining 80% of the connection cost payable in 12 convenient monthly instalments.
BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar revealed that the scheme has already seen strong uptake, with 25,000 residential users opting for it since its launch earlier this year. "We are happy with the number of people opting for the EMI option, which seems to be helpful for them to get the connection," Manohar stated. "While our aim is to push properties to get water connections, we have extended the same plan to commercial establishments so that we can get more connections from commercial establishments as well."
The connection charges vary based on the size and type of establishment, but the EMI facility provides a consistent and manageable payment structure for all.
5th Stage Project Crosses Major Milestone
This expansion comes as the BWSSB's ambitious Cauvery 5th Stage project hits a major milestone. As of the end of October 2024, the utility has physically completed 1,99,990 connections. With an overall target of 3.5 lakh (350,000) connections by 2028, this achievement means the board has already crossed the 50% mark within the first year of operations.
Data shows that of these nearly 2 lakh connections, 1,12,990 were existing users from the 4th Stage network across 110 villages, who have now been fully migrated to the enhanced 5th Stage pipeline. Furthermore, an impressive 87,000 new connections have been issued since October 2024, indicating sustained and growing demand for the reliable Cauvery supply.
Impact on Water Security and Future Plans
The expansion is particularly impactful for areas in east Bengaluru, which encompasses many of the 110 villages, where residents and businesses have historically relied on borewells and private water tankers. The consistent supply of piped Cauvery water is expected to significantly reduce this dependency, especially in localities where borewells have dried up or become unreliable.
"We have already achieved the 50% mark, and we'll easily achieve the target within the set timeline," Chairman Manohar affirmed. "We urge all new and existing property owners to get a Cauvery connection and avoid depending on water tankers."
The board has also streamlined its processing times. It now takes approximately 14 days to process a connection for a residential property and 42 days for commercial and apartment complex connections. To date, BWSSB has collected substantial revenue of Rs 1,337 crore from connection fees, pro-rata charges, and other related payments.
With the EMI scheme's extension and the rapid progress of the 5th Stage project, BWSSB is making a concerted push to provide a more secure and sustainable water infrastructure for India's tech capital.
