Residents of Bengaluru can now book drinking water tankers through a mobile app.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) on May 9 launched ‘Sanchari Cauvery’, an initiative to deliver BIS-certified, government-supplied clean drinking water via GPS-tracked tankers. The official app is available on the Google Play Store (Kaverionwheels).
Speaking at the launch event at Vidhana Soudha, deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said the pricing for tankers has been kept significantly lower than private rates.
“For deliveries within a 2 km radius, a 4,000-litre tanker is priced at Rs 660, a 5,000-litre tanker at Rs 700, a 6,000-litre tanker at Rs 740, and a 12,000-litre tanker at Rs 1,290. Beyond the 2 km limit, additional distance is charged at Rs 50 per kilometre for smaller tankers and Rs 70 per kilometre for the 12,000-litre tankers” said Shivakumar.
He said that this system ensures both affordability and water quality, in contrast to private operators who often supply water from unknown or unregulated sources.
Shivakumar alleged that the city’s water tanker mafia controls around 3,000 private borewells and often charges customers up to Rs 3,000 per delivery. “We have launched this scheme to counter their monopoly and provide clean BWSSB water at affordable prices,” he said.
A mobile app and web platform have been developed to allow users to register, book tankers of different capacities, track deliveries in real-time, make online payments, and receive driver details. An OTP-based verification process at the time of delivery ensures accountability. The service guarantees doorstep delivery within 24 hours of booking, even during peak demand periods, at no additional cost. A 24/7 helpline has also been set up to address grievances.
BWSSB chairman Ram Prasath Manohar elaborated on the implementation process, highlighting that citizens will receive real-time updates through SMS and app notifications, ensuring full transparency in the delivery system. He described ‘Sanchari Cauvery’ as the first-of-its-kind initiative to supply Cauvery water directly to the doorsteps of city residents.
EMI-scheme for Cauvery water connections
Alongside this, the government also unveiled ‘Sarala Cauvery’, a new scheme to simplify the process of obtaining Cauvery water connections.
“For houses with a built-up area of up to 600 square feet, residents can now pay Rs 1,000 initially, with the remaining amount payable in 12 equal monthly instalments. These payments will be collected along with regular water usage charges and a nominal service fee of 0.15 percent” said Shivakumar.
For larger properties, including apartments and houses over 600 square feet, applicants must pay 20 percent of the demand notice amount upfront, with the balance 80 percent payable in 12 monthly instalments. The physical connection will be provided once the initial payment is made.
Manohar said that the foundation stone has been laid for a Rs 1,900 crore project near Nelamangala to treat Vrishabhavathi river water and supply it to storage tanks in rural Bengaluru. He added that BWSSB is also taking steps to recharge the city’s groundwater levels.
Shivakumar further said that the government is actively exploring the Cauvery Stage VI project, as several banks have expressed interest in financing it.
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