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Journalism of Courage
To address the water crisis in Bengaluru city and arrest the soaring water tanker prices, the RTOs under the Karnataka transport department have impounded 163 private water tankers so as to aid the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) in supplying water to households. The move comes days after the BWSSB that is facing a shortage of vehicles wrote a letter to the transport department seeking to impound private water tankers.
According to M Shobha, joint transport commissioner (Bengaluru Urban), each of the 17 RTOs in Bengaluru has impounded about 10-15 private tankers. “This is being used to ferry water and supply it to households and apartments in the respective RTO zones,” said Shobha.
The government is in the process of taking over all the private water tankers in the city to crack down on exorbitant rates charged by water tankers.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has warned tanker lorry owners of seizing their vehicles if they do not register with the authorities by March 7. He mentioned that of the total 3,500 water tankers in Bengaluru city, only 10 per cent, that is 219 tankers, have registered with the authorities. Currently, the BWSSB is managing with only 210 tankers to supply water in Bengaluru.
Private water tankers currently charge anywhere between Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 for one load. The government on Tuesday is convening a meeting with the BWSSB, private water tanker owners to arrive at a nominal rate for water tanker services.
Bengaluru currently needs 1,450 mld (million litres per day) of water supply, out of which the city is facing a deficit of 50 per cent, especially in ground water resources.
Areas under Mahadevapura zone, including Kadugodi, Byrathi, Hoodi, Whitefield, Varthur, Marathahalli, Bellandur and AECS Layout, are some of the worst-affected regions in terms of water supply. Other places facing supply disruptions are Doddabidarakallu, Lingadheeranahalli under the RR Nagara zone, Konanakunte, Vasanthapura under the Bommanahalli zone, Thanisandra, Amruthhalli under the Yelahanka zone, and Chikkasandra, Mallasandra under the Dasarahalli zone.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has set up a control room at its head office to resolve water supply issues in 110 villages under 35 of its wards. The civic body has also assigned nodal officers to take care of drinking water problems in several parts of the city reeling under water crisis.
It has also requested the public to dial the helpline number 1533 in case of drinking water problems in these wards. Those in other wards should contact the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s (BWSSB) helpline number 1916, officials said.
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