Amid a pressing water scarcity in Bengaluru, the district administration has taken measures to address illicit water tanker operations by setting fixed rates for approximately 200 private tankers over four months. This initiative comes as private tanker operators hiked their prices in response to the severe water shortage plaguing the Karnataka capital.
To mitigate the water crisis, about 200 private tankers have been contracted to supply water to Bangalore City, with rates standardized by the district collector of Bangalore City following an appeal from the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).
Under the new rates, for distances within 5 km, a 6,000-litre water tanker will be charged at Rs 600, while an 8,000-litre and 12,000-litre tanker will cost Rs 700 and Rs 1,000, respectively, inclusive of GST. For distances beyond 5 km but within 10 km, rates have been fixed at Rs 750 for a 6,000-litre tanker, Rs 850 for an 8,000-litre tanker, and Rs 1,200 for a 12,000-litre tanker.
A significant portion of Bengaluru's population relies on tanker water, with complaints emerging of exorbitant charges ranging from Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,000 for a 12,000-litre tanker.
In response to the water crisis, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya criticized the Siddaramaiah government for its inaction despite warnings from experts, threatening protests if decisive action was not taken within a week. He highlighted the failure of the Congress government to address the water crisis, calling for immediate remedial measures.
Surya proposed solutions such as supplying treated water to industrial complexes for non-potable use and redirecting treated water to recharge aquifers and lakes. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah acknowledged the severity of the drought, with a significant number of taluks declared drought-hit, while large and medium industries minister MB Patil defended the Congress government's efforts, criticizing the BJP's criticism as baseless.
