Following the model adopted by the Bengaluru Traffic Police to clear pending fines, the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board is set to roll out a One-Time Settlement scheme for consumers with unpaid water bills. The move aims to help residents clear long-pending dues by offering a waiver on penalties and interest, giving consumers a limited-time opportunity to regularise their accounts.
The BWSSB has proposed a One-Time Settlement scheme that will allow water consumers to clear outstanding Cauvery water bills without paying delayed fees or interest. While the principal amount will still have to be paid in full, all accumulated penalties and interest will be waived. The state government has approved the proposal, and the scheme is expected
to be implemented from January.
Three-Month Window to Clear Dues
Under the One-Time Settlement scheme, the BWSSB will allow consumers a three-month window to pay their pending water bills. The waiver will apply only to interest and delayed payment charges, not to the original bill amount. Officials said the scheme is designed to encourage defaulters to come forward and settle long-standing arrears without the burden of additional charges.
The OTS is likely to remain in effect from January until the end of March, giving both residential and commercial consumers sufficient time to make payments.
Rs 700 Crore in Outstanding Water Bills
Bengaluru currently has around 11.14 lakh Cauvery water connections serving a population of about 1.55 crore people. Water and sewerage charges remain the primary source of revenue for the BWSSB, which supplies water from the Cauvery river located nearly 100 km away.
However, delayed payments by residential users, commercial establishments, and even government departments have severely affected the board’s finances. According to officials, unpaid water bills have piled up to around Rs 700 crore over the years. Of this, the BWSSB expects to recover around Rs 450 crore as the principal amount through the settlement scheme.
The mounting arrears have made it difficult for the board to fund routine operations, maintenance work, and infrastructure upgrades.
Public Welcomes the Decision
Several Bengaluru residents have welcomed the One-Time Settlement move, calling it a practical and much-needed decision. Consumers say interest and penalty amounts often exceed the original bill, making it difficult to clear dues in one go.
One resident said their office water bill had reached Rs 2.5 lakh, with penalties and interest adding up to several more lakhs over time. The waiver, they said, would make it easier to clear the pending amount and avoid further complications.
How Consumers Can Pay Pending Bills
The BWSSB plans to offer multiple payment options under the One-Time Settlement scheme. Consumers will be able to pay their outstanding bills through online platforms, at BWSSB offices, and via authorised banking payment systems.
Officials said further details regarding payment procedures and notifications will be shared once the scheme formally comes into effect in January.
