Water crisis hits Bangalore city
Private suppliers charge huge sum, as the government water supply board faces shortage
Nagaraju Koppula & Neha Mitra
Bangalore, April 20: The private water tank suppliers in the city have hiked their rates nearly by three folds due to irregular water supply by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), the government water supplying board.
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The actual cost of a 4000-liter water tanker is nearly Rs 375, however, the people in the southern Indian city are paying Rs.900 for one tanker of water.
“For the past three days we do not have adequate water supply. On calling the private suppliers, I was asked to pay Rs 1500,” said Asha Gowda, a resident of BTM layout, a residential area in Bangalore.
When she called a private supplier, she was informed that no orders will be accepted after 4 pm. Initially, the supplier asked her to pay Rs 1000, however, she got the water tanker by paying Rs 1500. “Since, the state is not supplying water, we have to pay so much of money,” she added.
“We have to get water from far off places. If the delivery is near we charge Rs 1000 and for a long distance we charge Rs 1500,” said Narayana, a manager with a private water supplier in the city.
R Thimmappa, the manager at Bannerghatta BWSSB, said that for the past one week they have severe water crisis. “The private water suppliers are taking advantage by asking more money from people. We cannot do anything. There are many complaints coming from the residents for last five days,” he said.
He added that the BWSSB has received around 1000 complaints in the last five days.
Water woes in Rajajinagar
Despite several complaints to the BWSSB by the residents, there has been no water supply for the past 15 days in Rajaji Nagar. The residents said that they have to depend on private tankers for water.
“Only one or two roads are being supplied with water as per the BWSSB routine. We have complained so many times, but they do not seem to take any action,” said S Pandurangam, a resident of Rajajinagar. He said that all the families in their locality have to depend on private tankers to get water to their homes. “One water tanker costs us Rs 400 for each load,” he said.
However, the officials of BWSSB are of different opinion. “Whenever any complaint comes to us, we make sure the problems are immediately tackle with. I do not know why these people are complaining that BWSSB is not taking any action,” said P L Amrutesh, assistant executive engineer, BWSSB
Some of the residents also said that the private water tankers take the money, but provide only half of the quantity. “Instead of 7000 liters of water, we got only 3000 liters for the same amount,” said Pandurangam.
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