On Friday the Bengaluru water supply and sewerage board (BWSSB) issued an order to ban use of drinking water for washing vehicles, gardening, building constructions and other non- essentials purposes .
“as per the BWSSB act 1964, Article 33 and 34, we have decide to ban drinking water for non- essentials purposes to address the issue related to the water scarcity in different part of the city, ”the BWSSB order said . “anyone found violating the above order will be fined with Rs 5000 and for subsequent violating Rs 500 will be added per day to the principal fine ,”it further said.
People of Bengaluru facing water crises in different part of the city, with the summer heat intensifying and ground water resource depleting it is necessary to stop the wastage of drinking water and make it available for 1.40 crore (14 million) population of the Bengaluru city, The order stated.
The board also launched the dedicated call centers to resolve the quarries related to the water crises issue and also request citizen to report if they found anyone violating the order.
The chairperson of BWSSB Ram Prasath Manohar reacting to the recent order explained the measures taken by the board to address the water crises issue.
Furthermore, he added there Is no shortage of water in the area where Cauvary water is supplied but this issues lies in the rest of the cities . currently we are supplying 1,470 MLD to meet the demand of the Bengaluru city, Manohar said.
While asking about the practicality of identifying violations across the city, Manohar said that “we have directed meter readers to patrol the area daily and observe violations. We are also requesting citizens to help conserve water by reporting any misuse . citizen can inform us and we will take switch action .
Over the past few weeks citizen of Bengaluru faces increase in prices of private water tanker after which on Thursday, the government of Karnataka issued an order capping private water tanker prices . previously 6,000 liter tanker price was between Rs 450 – Rs 600 after water crisis the price hiked to Rs 2,000 – Rs 3,000 in the city to address this issue, the government intervened and fixed the prices.
The district administration has also taken a crucial step to regulate the price of water tank .
Under the new regulation, tankers supplying water within 5-kilometre radius can charge Rs 600 for 6,000 liters, Rs 700 for 8,000 liters and Rs 1,000 for 12,000-liter tanker. For distance beyond 5 kms but within 10 kms , tanker will be charge Rs 750 Rs 850 Rs 1,200, respectively for the same tanker capacities .
