Bengaluru, March 21 (NationPress) In a generous Ugadi gift to the residents of the city, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who oversees the Bengaluru Development portfolio, announced on Saturday a One Time Settlement (OTS) initiative that will provide a full waiver of interest on outstanding water bills.

This scheme, to be executed by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), will be available for a period of three months from April to June 2026.

Shivakumar stated in a press release that the initiative is designed to offer relief to those consumers with long-standing water bill dues. Customers who pay the principal amount in full will receive a 100% waiver on the accumulated interest up until April 2026.

The OTS scheme aims to assist consumers in settling their dues while alleviating their financial strain. The scheme will run for three months, from April through June 2026, he mentioned.

As per official statistics, out of approximately 11 lakh water connections managed by BWSSB, around 5.11 lakh consumers have outstanding payments. By the end of February 2026, the total arrears reached ₹851.33 crore, comprising ₹539.43 crore in principal and ₹311.90 crore in interest.

The government indicated that the initiative is intended to reduce the financial burden on consumers while simultaneously enhancing the financial stability of the water board. During the three-month scheme, if consumers pay the total principal amount, all accumulated interest up to April 2026 will be waived.

This OTS scheme will apply to all categories of BWSSB consumers, including residential, commercial, and industrial users. Arrangements will also be made to address the dues of governmental departments and institutions through account reconciliation.

To aid in payments, BWSSB will provide each defaulter with information such as RR number, principal amount, interest waiver, and the total amount to be paid. Consumers can settle their dues at BWSSB kiosks, through the online portal, and via various digital payment platforms.

Shivakumar noted that this initiative is anticipated to benefit over 5.11 lakh consumers and will significantly ease their financial burden by waiving nearly ₹311 crore in interest. He encouraged the public to take advantage of this three-month opportunity to resolve their debts.

For transparency and ease of payment, BWSSB will share information with each defaulter, including their RR number, principal amount, interest waived, and total payable amount. Payments can be made through BWSSB kiosks, the online portal, and other digital payment methods, as stated by Shivakumar.

The deputy CM further emphasized that this scheme fulfills two objectives: providing financial relief to more than 5.11 lakh consumers while bolstering the financial health of the board. He reiterated that by waiving nearly ₹311 crore in interest, the burden on citizens is expected to be significantly alleviated and urged the public to utilize this three-month window.