Bengaluru apartment dwellers battle Bangalore Sewerage Board’s levy of sanitary charges

In Bengaluru, apartment residents with sewage treatment plants (STPs) are expressing dissatisfaction with the imposition of hefty sanitary charges by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). Sanitary charges, typically levied for wastewater removal from buildings, have become a point of contention for apartment complexes with more than 20 flats. According to BWSSB regulations introduced in 2014, such apartments are mandated to establish STPs for sewage treatment.
Residents argue that they already treat the sewage they generate, making the imposition of additional sanitary fees unjust. They question the rationale behind the charges, especially when BWSSB does not provide essential services such as underground drains (UGD) for excess treated water or emergencies. In one instance, a bill of Rs 50,000 in sanitary charges was issued for a single month.
Evidence from bills accessed by The Times of India (TOI) reveals that apartments with more than 20 flats and STPs have indeed been charged substantial amounts in sanitary fees, with one bill amounting to Rs 51,459 for August and another at Rs 47,365 for June. The classification of these apartments as "bulk consumers" allows BWSSB to charge unjustifiably high charges. This issue was raised in a water adalat with BWSSB, and BWSSB assured that the matter would be investigated.
Satish Mallya, the Joint Secretary of the Bangalore Apartments' Federation, emphasizes that apartments across the city have invested significantly in STPs to responsibly treat sewage, incurring monthly costs much above Rs 50,000. Nevertheless, BWSSB continues to levy these unjust sanitary charges. Multiple attempts to address this issue with BWSSB through written communication and meetings have yielded no change in the situation.
Rajagopalan R, Chairperson of the South City Maintenance Community, comprising 2,000 flats, illustrates the financial burden that STPs pose. The initial setup of an STP cost them Rs 8 lakh, and they must allocate Rs 4 lakh every month for maintenance. This translates to Rs 200 per flat as sanitary charges. The residents are willing to pay if BWSSB is genuinely responsible for their sewage water, but question the necessity of charges if BWSSB is not rendering services in return. Rajagopalan points out that BWSSB's capacity to treat wastewater is inadequate. Hence it is impossible for BWSSB to take it upon itself completely.
In response to these concerns, BWSSB has asserted that they are not imposing sanitary charges on apartments adhering to the sewage treatment norms set by the National Green Tribunal. According to BWSSB officials, those managing sewage properly in compliance with these norms are exempt from such charges.
In conclusion, the charging of fees without rendering any service is against basic principles and thus is rightly contested. As BWSSB has already agreed to look into the issue, the matter would get clarified further with time.

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Bengaluru apartment dwellers battle Bangalore Sewerage Board’s levy of sanitary charges

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