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The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has proposed a 10 per cent rebate on pro rata charges if bookings for water and sanitary connections are made online from 2017. This initiative is an effort to put an end to corrupt practices by BWSSB plumbers and engineers when people approach them for connections and to encourage online payment.
Though such a proposal was made nine months ago it was taken up and revived by present Chairman, Sri Tushar Girinath, IAS, according to BWSSB sources.
“The proposal has been reportedly sent to the Government for approval and is expected to come through anytime. As soon as it gets the green signal, it will be notified in the gazette and will come into effect immediately. There is no need to call for public opinion in this case as it involves reduction of rates.
Welcoming the discount offered for online booking, Sri R. Krishnamurthy, President, PIA while this would certainly incentivize industries to migrate to digital transaction, the long-pending demand for moderation of pro-rata charges for industries was still yet to be addressed. “The BWSSB is trying to steer away from our demand by offering us sops like this which do not address the central issue, that is the high rate of pro-rata charges,” he said. “We will definitely continue to pursue a resolution of our demand for scaling down the pro-rata charges at least for micro and small scale industries,” he declared.
At the same time, he said PIA will also increase awareness about online booking for water connections, since public awareness was very low according to reports. There is an online tool already in place on the BWSSB website to facilitate booking.
The BWSSB receives an average of 1,000 applications for new water and sanitary connections each month and earns a revenue ranging between Rs 30 crore and Rs 40 crore from this each month.
Pro-rata is the one time non-refundable payment deposited with the BWSSB by any consumer who applies for a new water and sanitary connection. This one-time fee is calculated on per square metre of built-up area.
A hike in pro-rata charges ranging between 67% and 100% was effected after eight years in January 2016. The present rates are Rs 600 per sq. m. for commercial establishments.
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