Karnataka govt to take over water tankers in Bengaluru, says Deputy CM Shivakumar
The cost of a 12,000-litre water tanker, which stood at Rs 700-800 in early January, has surged to Rs 1,500-1,800, with rates exceeding Rs 2,000 in many areas of the city, which face acute water shortages.
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The Deputy CM also said that Rs 10 crore had been allocated from department grants to each assembly constituency in Bengaluru. A special meeting has been scheduled for Monday (March 4) afternoon to further discuss the issue. he added. (Express file photo)The Karnataka government has decided to take control of water tankers that have been supplying water sourced from borewells to households in Bengaluru, in view of the rising concerns of water scarcity in the state and subsequent escalation in the rates of these tankers.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Saturday announced the state government’s decision to take over all tankers responsible for distributing water sourced from borewells in the city.
This move aims to address the pressing water scarcity issues in Bengaluru, particularly in the 110 villages located on the outskirts and periphery of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) zones.
Taking to X, Shivakumar said: “Taking into consideration the importance of meeting drinking water demands in Bengaluru, our govt has decided to take over water supply tankers. This step will ensure that no water trafficking ensues in such critical times, and that every household gets water supply. Therefore, all tube wells supplying water through tankers must register themselves with the govt by 7th March on the website https://bbmp.oasisweb.in/TankerManagement/SelfRegistration.aspx . Also to adequately manage water supplies, daily meetings are being held by BWSSB and Corporation officials, and a meeting is scheduled for 4th March to discuss further on the issue.”
Taking into consideration the importance of meeting drinking water demands in Bengaluru, our govt has decided to take over water supply tankers.
This step will ensure that no water trafficking ensues in such critical times, and that every household gets water supply.…
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) March 2, 2024
The BBMP recently mandated that all water tanker operators must register themselves on the municipal corporation’s portal within a week, while also requiring them to carry a valid certification in their vehicles at all times.
The Deputy CM also said that Rs 10 crore had been allocated from department grants to each assembly constituency in Bengaluru. A special meeting has been scheduled for Monday (March 4) afternoon to further discuss the issue. he added.
Despite these assurances, water tanker operators persist in exploiting the situation, hiking prices to exorbitant levels. The cost of a 12,000-litre tanker, which stood at Rs 700-800 in early January, has surged to Rs 1,500-1,800, with rates exceeding Rs 2,000 in many areas of the city, which face acute water shortages.
A senior BBMP official revealed that out of the more than 4,000 water tankers operating in the city, only 60 have obtained licenses from the municipal corporation. Plans are underway to crack down on unauthorised tankers, he said.
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