No sewerage cess if old apartments instal STPs

Bengaluru, Jun 9: Bengaluru Development Minister K J George on Thursday said the government will waive sewerage cess on old residential apartment complexes in the city if they set up their own sewerage treatment plants.

Replying to JD(S) member R Chowda Reddy in the Legislative Council, he said STPs are mandatory for all new apartments. Those constructed after February 25 last year, have been given time till December this year to set up STPs. Sewerage cess will be waived for those constructed before February 25 last year, if they set up STPs, he added.

The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board is currently levying 30% of the monthly water bill amount as sewerage cess on apartments that do not have STPs.

Chowda Reddy complained that the BBMP officials and BWSSB were needlessly harassing people living in apartments to set up STPs.

George assured that he would take strict action against such officials. Responding to a query on revival of Bellandur and Varthur lakes by P R Ramesh of Congress, the minister said tenders have been finalised for taking up various works for the revival of the two lakes.

The revival plan is in accordance with the recommendations of an expert committee. Two STPs are being set up to ensure only treated water is let into the lakes, George added.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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