BENGALURU: Residents have already started feeling the pinch of water shortage even as summer is setting in. From having to book tankers days in advance to installing pumps to make up for the low pressure of Cauvery water in their taps, they’re doing all they can to meet their needs.
While several residents have taken to social media to register their grievances, BWSSB officials maintain they are getting the required 1.6 tmcft of Cauvery river water.BWSSB engineer-in-chief Suresh B told TOI they’re sending 68 tankers with them to areas where piped water supply gets disrupted. “At present, we need 1.6 tmcft of water from the reservoirs, that is the existing allocation. We’ll need 2.5 tmcft from April after Cauvery Stage V project gets commissioned and the 110 newly added villages of BBMP will receive piped water,” he said.
But residents disagree with the water authority’s claim that the city is getting its necessary share of water.
Daniel A, a resident of a seven-unit apartment complex off ORR, said his apartment earlier depended on borewell and Cauvery supply alone. “This month, because of the lack of sufficient piped and borewell water, we had to resort to buying water,” he said.
A Doddanekkundi resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said his apartment association was negotiating with tankers but the rates quoted were quite high. The association told him that three of their eight borewells had broken down because of overwork, and the other borewells were at risk as they were yielding sand because of depleting water levels. The association told him that one of the three tanker suppliers they contacted cited unavailability of water at his source, while another was looking at revising the rates.
Independent houses too have been hit by the water problem. “We were asked by the water tanker owner to place the order five days in advance, as sources are drying up in Whitefield area. A 3,500-litre tanker earlier cost Rs 350 and would last a week. Now, the supplier charges up to Rs 800. Larger tankers of 6,000-litre capacity cost Rs 1,600-1,800,” said Bharath J, whose family lives in Kadugodi.
Sundar S, a resident of Ejipura, said he has followed his neighbours’ lead of families living in a building pooling in money and installing an HP motor at their Cauvery water tap, increasing the drawing capacity to 400 litres a minute. “Smaller tankers of 2,000 litres have started making inroads in the narrower streets of Ejipura too,” Sundar added. A 4,000-litre tanker costs Rs 600-Rs 800, said Murugan K, a technician residing in Bommanhalli. “The price hasn’t increased here so far, thankfully. We get piped water about twice a week for four hours in all,” he added.
Responding to concerns over exorbitant sums being charged by operators who supply water through tankers, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said the govt will fix rates for water tankers. Replying to BJP members who raised the issue in the assembly, Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru development and water resources portfolios, acknowledged demands for regulating rates charged by borewell water tanker operators.
The rates currently range from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per tanker. BJP member BA Basavaraj (Byrathi) raised the issue saying residents are forced to pay exorbitant sums especially in the summer when demand is high. He proposed a fixed rate of Rs 750-800 per tanker to alleviate the burden on consumers. Other BJP members rallied behind the former minister. Shivakumar expressed willingness to consider the suggestions while emphasising the need for consensus among all parties involved.
He acknowledged the necessity of providing relief to the public until supply of Cauvery water is stabilised. He disclosed plans to extend Cauvery fifth stage water supply to the 110 villages that were added to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike in 2006 and promised implementation of the scheme by April or May. Opposition leader R Ashoka raised concerns about the adequacy of existing borewells, especially considering a report which suggested a 30% decline in Cauvery water.
He urged the govt to address restrictions on drilling new borewells to mitigate potential water shortages during the summer months. Shivakumar acknowledged the challenges posed by diminishing water resources and emphasised the need for proactive measures to ensure sustainable water management in Bengaluru.
While several residents have taken to social media to register their grievances, BWSSB officials maintain they are getting the required 1.6 tmcft of Cauvery river water.BWSSB engineer-in-chief Suresh B told TOI they’re sending 68 tankers with them to areas where piped water supply gets disrupted. “At present, we need 1.6 tmcft of water from the reservoirs, that is the existing allocation. We’ll need 2.5 tmcft from April after Cauvery Stage V project gets commissioned and the 110 newly added villages of BBMP will receive piped water,” he said.
But residents disagree with the water authority’s claim that the city is getting its necessary share of water.
Daniel A, a resident of a seven-unit apartment complex off ORR, said his apartment earlier depended on borewell and Cauvery supply alone. “This month, because of the lack of sufficient piped and borewell water, we had to resort to buying water,” he said.
A Doddanekkundi resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said his apartment association was negotiating with tankers but the rates quoted were quite high. The association told him that three of their eight borewells had broken down because of overwork, and the other borewells were at risk as they were yielding sand because of depleting water levels. The association told him that one of the three tanker suppliers they contacted cited unavailability of water at his source, while another was looking at revising the rates.
Independent houses too have been hit by the water problem. “We were asked by the water tanker owner to place the order five days in advance, as sources are drying up in Whitefield area. A 3,500-litre tanker earlier cost Rs 350 and would last a week. Now, the supplier charges up to Rs 800. Larger tankers of 6,000-litre capacity cost Rs 1,600-1,800,” said Bharath J, whose family lives in Kadugodi.
Sundar S, a resident of Ejipura, said he has followed his neighbours’ lead of families living in a building pooling in money and installing an HP motor at their Cauvery water tap, increasing the drawing capacity to 400 litres a minute. “Smaller tankers of 2,000 litres have started making inroads in the narrower streets of Ejipura too,” Sundar added. A 4,000-litre tanker costs Rs 600-Rs 800, said Murugan K, a technician residing in Bommanhalli. “The price hasn’t increased here so far, thankfully. We get piped water about twice a week for four hours in all,” he added.
Responding to concerns over exorbitant sums being charged by operators who supply water through tankers, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said the govt will fix rates for water tankers. Replying to BJP members who raised the issue in the assembly, Shivakumar, who holds the Bengaluru development and water resources portfolios, acknowledged demands for regulating rates charged by borewell water tanker operators.
The rates currently range from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 per tanker. BJP member BA Basavaraj (Byrathi) raised the issue saying residents are forced to pay exorbitant sums especially in the summer when demand is high. He proposed a fixed rate of Rs 750-800 per tanker to alleviate the burden on consumers. Other BJP members rallied behind the former minister. Shivakumar expressed willingness to consider the suggestions while emphasising the need for consensus among all parties involved.
He acknowledged the necessity of providing relief to the public until supply of Cauvery water is stabilised. He disclosed plans to extend Cauvery fifth stage water supply to the 110 villages that were added to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike in 2006 and promised implementation of the scheme by April or May. Opposition leader R Ashoka raised concerns about the adequacy of existing borewells, especially considering a report which suggested a 30% decline in Cauvery water.
He urged the govt to address restrictions on drilling new borewells to mitigate potential water shortages during the summer months. Shivakumar acknowledged the challenges posed by diminishing water resources and emphasised the need for proactive measures to ensure sustainable water management in Bengaluru.