‘Abundant water for a few, nothing for most’

Bengaluru: Irregular water supply kept tempers running high at a zonal-level meeting in Mahadevapura on Friday. RWAs, apartment residents and representatives from different layouts in the zone singled out water men — responsible for maintenance and supply of water at the ward level — for their plight.At the meeting, attended by BBMP and BWSSB officials, the residents squarely accused the water men of bias, saying water scarcity is being acutely felt by most of them, while some others, including commercial establishments, never run out of the precious resource.

Kochu Shankar from Trinity Enclave Residency Association, Kalkere, said, “A few houses, apartments and commercial establishments get proper water but other layouts like ours never get enough, whether from Cauvery river or from borewells. These water operators regularly complain they are not paid properly by the civic body and end up making money by giving water to a select few who can pay them.” Srikanth, a resident of Babusapalya, said they get water from both Cauvery and borewells but just once a week or once in 10 days. “Every water operator is corrupt and it is plainly visible when a few houses receive water and a few don’t … a few get in good quantity and a few don’t …How is it possible?”Purushotham, another resident of Mahadevapura, said, “Instead of thinking about my daily activities to earn a living, I spend the entire day thinking how to get water for my home… Calling up multiple tankers and requesting them to send water has become a daily pain.”Dakshayani, joint commissioner, BBMP (Mahadevapura), said in areas like Nallurhalli and Whitefield, many houses get very less water as operators ensure better supply for a few houses and apartments.Mirza Anwar, BWSSB executive engineer (Mahadevapura), said, “We will look into the matter. However, shuffling water operators will be risky at present. Instead, we are looking into training them in a better way to ensure every household gets adequate water supply.”The BMMP has recruited 15 water operators in Mahadevapura zone and another 100-odd have been outsourced. The BWSSB has 80-plus operators working in various parts of the zone.
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