Karnataka Deputy CM indicates possible hike in monthly water charges in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday indicated that a possible hike in the monthly water charges in the city is on the cards as he highlighted the financial strains faced by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).
Shivakumar, who is also the Minister in-charge of Bengaluru Development, said the loss-making BWSSB has not been able to take up new projects.
The state government had last week hiked sales tax on fuel which has made petrol and diesel costlier by Rs 3 and Rs 3.5 per litre, respectively.
'Since last 10 years, the water tariff in Bengaluru has not been increased. It (BWSSB) is suffering a great loss. We have to take up new projects. No bank is coming forward to finance the BWSSB. Now the (Cauvery) fifth phase (water supply project) is going to be completed," Shivakumar told reporters here.
"Seventy per cent is power bill and labour cost...every year we (BWSSB) are having a big loss. So there is no option. I am working out the possibilities, we are discussing how to set the company right," the Minister said.
Even development agencies like the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the World Bank have contended that the water tariff hike issue is being politicised, and no attempt is made to ensure that BWSSB achieves break-even, Shivakumar said. "We want to expand things. We have given six tmc (thousand million cubic feet) more water (from Cauvery) for Bengaluru, we will have to take up one more phase to draw that water."
"There is no option. We want to show that it is an independent company financially and it works independently. I have asked officials to examine the possibilities (of hike). Let us see, ultimately we will put all facts before the public domain and then we will take a call," he added.
VIDEO | Here's what Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said on possibility of rise in water tariff in Bengaluru.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 19, 2024
"The water tariff has not been increased in Bengaluru in the last 10 years. There has been a great loss. We have to take new projects. No bank is coming forward to… pic.twitter.com/CtYBXsYakE
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Minor boy strangled to death for ransom in UP's Sultanpur
Sultanpur (PTI): A debt-ridden neighbour allegedly kidnapped and murdered an 11-year-old boy boy at Sultanpur, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, Asif alias Sonu, demanded a ransom of Rs 5,00,000 for releasing Osama alias Sahil to repay his debts, Kotwali police station SHO Naradmuni Singh said.
"The incident took place in the Gandhinagar locality of Sultanpur. The victim's father, Mohd Shakeel, said his son went missing on Monday night after he left to attend a wedding procession. Despite searches, there was no trace of the child," the SHO said.
On Wednesday morning, Osama's body with strangulation marks was found at the residence of the accused whom the police arrested, he said.
Asif, who lives in the same neighbourhood as the victim, exploited the trust built between the two families to carry out the crime, the officer said.
The killing of the minor boy has triggered outrage in the area with the residents demanding stringent punishment for the accused.
The victim's family has called for death penalty for Asif.
