Bengaluru water crisis took a new phase when several borewells have dried up due to lack of rain in the last few months. On Tuesday, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that all areas of Bengaluru are facing a water shortage problem. He further added that even the borewell at his home had dried up.
The Government plans to use Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) milk tankers to deliver water to Bengaluru. Shiva Kumar promised that the Government would ensure water supply in Bengaluru at any cost. Some notable points or impact of the water crisis in Bengaluru includes:
- Residential societies have advised residents to use less water daily.
- Some housing societies have imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on their residents for the misuse of drinking water.
- During the crisis, many private water tankers charge too much from the citizens for delivering water. The cost of 5,000- a litre water tanker is about Rs 500 in the city, but after the crisis, the price of the water tanker has gone upto Rs 2,000.
However, the Government said all tanker owners should talk to the association and fix a standard price.
CM Shiva Kumar on Bengaluru Water Crisis and Rising Water Tank Cost
CM Shiva Kumar warned private water tanker owners to register with the authorities by March 7; otherwise, the Government will seize their tankers. The total number of tankers in the city is 3,500, and only 10 per cent of the tankers are registered with the authorities.
Around 3500-4000 private tankers operate in the city from the 14,000 borewells. Seven thousand borewells have dried up, which leads to a 50 per cent shortage in the city. The Government will drill a new borewell.
Shiva kumar also hit the centre for stalling the Mekedatu reservoir project, which he believes could solve Bengaluru’s water shortage. Each MLA of Bengaluru has been given Rs 10 crore for the water shortage. He also announced that the state government has issued Rs 556 crore to address the water crisis in Bengaluru.