“Govt’s Cruel Water Tax: Taxing water is daylight robbery, Will the Govt. Tax on Air after Water?”

“Heartless & Unjust”: Outrage Erupts as Karnataka Govt Slaps Brutal Water Price Hike on Bengaluru’s Struggling Families

BWSSB’s Cruel April 10 Tariff Revision Crushes Low-Income Households; Public Demands Rollback as Govt Prioritizes Profit Over People

“Taxing water is daylight robbery. When will governments understand that basic survival necessities—like air and water—cannot be treated as profit-making tools? Shame on any administration that exploits people’s thirst for revenue!”

Bengaluru: In a shocking display of indifference towards its citizens, the Karnataka government has unleashed yet another financial assault on Bengaluru’s residents, imposing a merciless water tariff hike effective April 10. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), acting as a willing pawn of an apathetic administration, has callously raised prices by 0.15 to 1 paisa per litre, further squeezing a population already buckling under relentless inflation.

This draconian move—disguised as a necessity for “infrastructure and operational costs”—has sparked fury among working-class families, who are now forced to choose between drinking water and other essentials. With food, gas, and electricity prices already skyrocketing, this government-sanctioned exploitation has pushed public anger to a boiling point.

“Enough is Enough!” – Citizens Slam Govt’s Betrayal

“Water is nature’s blessing, not a government’s commodity. No state or central authority has the right to put a price on what God has given freely, like air and water. Denying water to those who cannot pay is a crime against humanity,” says Dorothy D’souza.

“Water is not a luxury—it’s a basic right!” shouted Shobha, a homemaker from Rajajinagar, her voice trembling with rage. “While politicians live in luxury, they’re making us pay more for the water we need to survive. This government has no conscience.”

Babu, an auto-rickshaw driver from Pottery Town, echoed the despair of thousands: “Every month, they find new ways to rob us. First fuel, then food, now water? How much more blood do they want from us?”

Prabhakar, a schoolteacher in SK Garden, condemned the move as “economic cruelty”: “Middle-class families are barely surviving. Instead of relief, this government stabs us in the back. Shame on them!”

Ayesha, a Shivajinagar resident, lashed out: “They don’t care if we live or die. We’re being taxed to death while they waste public money on vanity projects. This is not governance—this is tyranny.”

BWSSB’s Sham Justification Exposed

Under the revised structure, households will now be charged 0.30 paisa per litre for basic usage, with higher slabs reaching 1 paisa per litre. Meanwhile, bulk water supply costs have surged by up to 1.90 paisa per litre, and commercial users—including small businesses—face a 125% increase, a death knell for struggling entrepreneurs.

BWSSB Chairman Raghavendra B.G. had the audacity to claim the hike was “modest”, citing an 11-year freeze on tariffs. But his hollow assurances ring false—how can a government that splurges on wasteful projects justify bleeding dry its own people?

Ram Prasad Manesar, BWSSB President, added insult to injury by stating the hike was “carefully implemented to avoid public stress.” What grotesque irony! When will this administration realize that empty words don’t fill empty stomachs—or thirsty mouths?

Public Fury Grows – Will the Govt Listen?

As Bengaluru’s residents reel under this latest economic assault, one thing is clear: this government has lost all moral authority. Instead of squeezing every last rupee from its citizens, why isn’t it cracking down on water mafias, fixing leakages, or recovering ₹200 crore in pending dues from defaulters?

The people demand answers. The people demand justice. Will this heartless regime listen, or will it continue to punish the poor for its own failures?

The streets are watching. The voters are remembering.