A view of the Cascade Aerator Train at the Water Purification Centre at Torekadinahalli near Malavalli.

| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN

It has been a year since Cauvery Stage V, which provides piped river water to the parched 110 villages in the city’s outer zones, was inaugurated in October 2024. But in the past year, only 87,000 new connections were provided, according to data from Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).As against a target of 3.5 lakh connections under Stage V, BWSSB has to date provided nearly 2 lakh connections, achieving over 50% progress. However, nearly 1.13 lakh of these connections were provided before Stage V was inaugurated. Rejuvenation of borewells after two successive monsoons in 2024 and 2025, high pro rata charges and trust deficit over regular water supply and its quantum seem to be leading to slow progress in the rate of new connections. This, despite BWSSB introducing the Sarala Cauvery scheme under which customers get to pay the charges in 12 installments. Cauvery Stage V: Report CardTarget total connections under Stage V: 3,50,000 by 2028Existing connections in 110 villages prior to Stage V: 1,12,990 New connections given under Stage V after commissioning in October 2024: 87,000Total Physical Connections: 1,99,990Total Individual House/Plot Connections: 1,80,290Total Multi-Dwelling/Apartment Connections: 4,465Total Commercial / Industrial Connections: 19,286Average Application Processing Time: 14 days for residential and 42 days for commercial and apartment connectionsTotal Revenue Collected (connection fees, pro-rata, etc.): ₹1,337.31 croreTotal Project Cost (original estimate): ₹5,550 crore However, V. Ram Prasath Manohar, Chairman, BWSSB, termed the progress “steady”. “The rate of new connections slowed down due to the recent occupancy certificate (OC) issue. That will also likely be resolved soon,” he said. Implementing a December 2024 Supreme Court order, Bescom and BWSSB are to give utility connections to only buildings with an OC. Nearly 24,000 applications for new water connections are stuck due to the OC impasse in the entire city. The breakup of these applications under Cauvery Stage V is not available. The State government exempted buildings on plots up to 1200 sq. ft. from availing an OC, and talks are on to provide one time relief to larger buildings that have already been built as well. Issues persist Even now, many apartment communities are yet to be convinced that taking a BWSSB water connection is beneficial to them. D. Chandramouli, a resident of an apartment off Kanakapura Road, said that their community is yet to take BWSSB connection as the residents feel it is a huge upfront investment, when there is no guarantee over adequate water supply. “Four of the many borewells in our apartment complexes had dried up. After two years of good rains, we have rejuvenated them. With modest additional water from tankers, we are able to manage ourselves well. In this scenario, residents are not ready to pay over ₹1 lakh for a BWSSB connection,” he said. Satish Mallya, of Bangalore Apartments Federation (BAF) explained that there were two categories of apartments over the issue. “In several apartments, the builders had collected money towards providing water connections from home buyers, but had not deposited the same with BWSSB. We have held tripatriate meetings with apartment associations, builders and BWSSB and the process to resolve this issue is on,” he said.“In the second case where flat owners need to pay for new connections, many are still not convinced of the Return on Investment for paying such huge fees and taking a BWSSB connection. The Board is not able to give us an assurance of the quantum of water that it will provide to each household. Flat owners are asking as to why they should take a BWSSB connection if they are to still supplement it with either borewell or tanker water,” he explained. Published - October 08, 2025 08:27 pm IST