Sarala Cauvery scheme: East zone leads as Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board collects Rs 80.2 lakh in 3 months | Bengaluru News
Bengaluru: The Sarala Cauvery scheme, under which apartment complexes can avail water connections by paying 20 per cent of connection charges upfront and the remaining 80 per cent in 12 instalments, has garnered maximum interest in the city’s east zone. Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), which rolled out the scheme in May, has received 2,129 applications and mobilised Rs 39.5 lakh from the zone.Across all zones, the scheme has garnered revenue of Rs 80.2 lakh in three months, with 4,925 applications received and 4,798 connections provided by July 22.The scheme is targeted at small and medium apartment complexes, offering Cauvery water connections on payment of either 20 per cent of the total deposit or Rs 1,000 as an initial amount, with the remaining to be settled in monthly instalments at 0.35 per cent interest. It aims to offer relief to middle-income groups, especially in regions where upfront costs have been a deterrent.Following east zone, southern Bengaluru received 1,621 applications (with 1,614 connections completed) and collected nearly Rs 24.1 lakh.Senior BWSSB officials said these figures show the scheme’s effectiveness in making water connections accessible to those who previously postponed submitting applications due to substantial initial charges. A senior official said initial uptake was expected to be slow, but participation has risen sharply in the last two months. The official added many apartment owners had been delaying water connection requests due to inability to pay the entire fee upfront, and Sarala Cauvery scheme is addressing this issue. EMI facility has also been extended for facilitating payments. Applicants are required to pay 20 per cent of the amount within 30 days. If they fail to meet EMI obligations, a notice is issued, and persistent non-payment can result in disconnection of both water and sewerage services.Box:ZoneApplications receivedConnections completedAmount collected (in Rs)East2,1392,05239,47,300West4163943,53,890South1,6211,61424,09,320North74973813,09,870Total4,9254,79880,20,380
