BENGALURU: Noted theatre personality Somashekhar Rao was of the opinion that the recent hike in water tariff by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is unpardonable and uncalled for. He was speaking at a protest organised by the Save Bangalore Committee and various citizen associations in this regard at the KR Circle in the city on Tuesday.
“The move of the BWSSB to increase the water tariff is highly condemnable. More than 45 per cent of the water that is supplied goes unaccounted and does not reach the citizens. This water is lost due to unattended leakages, illegal supply to malls and big business establishments. The water that reaches the citizens is highly polluted and unclean. To increase the price of such water too is unpardonable. The citizens should raise their voice against this move and press upon the government to withdraw the hike,” said Rao.
Save Bangalore Committee co-convener V N Rajashekhar said that it was a heinous plot by the authorities to unnecessarily tax consumers. “The price hike is a move to privatise water in the near future. In order to attract private players in the field, the BWSSB is bent upon increasing the water prices so that the private players can increase it further,” said Rajashekhar, quoting movements across the world against the privatisation of water.