The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is set to expand its jurisdiction across the entire Bengaluru Urban district, bringing nearly 86 Gram Panchayats and 11 Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) under its ambit. The move is expected to improve access to piped water for nearly 1,900,000 people, according to an initial estimate by the board.

Senior BWSSB officials said the project would initially serve three ULBs and six Gram Panchayats that have been brought under the board’s jurisdiction. The expansion has generated expectations among residents on the city’s periphery, many of whom have been seeking more reliable water supplies and greater certainty over access to the Cauvery system.

However, the board has not yet identified the water sources that can be used to supply the newly included areas. BWSSB officials said determining suitable sources and augmenting the available water capacity would be among the principal challenges associated with the expansion.

The board has also cautioned that inclusion within its jurisdiction does not guarantee that every village will receive Cauvery water. The eventual supply arrangement will depend on the availability of sources, the capacity of the network and the infrastructure required to extend connections across the newly covered areas.

Residents in Bengaluru East taluk have welcomed the prospect of improved water access. R Baby, a resident of Kithaganur, said the expansion could provide greater certainty over water availability and improve the quality of life in the locality.

The jurisdictional expansion comes as the BWSSB continues to oversee major water infrastructure work, including the Cauvery Stage V project. Details of the implementation schedule, funding requirements and the sequence in which the additional ULBs and Gram Panchayats will be connected have not been disclosed.