Cauvery Water at ₹90? Residents Still at Mercy of Tankers

To free 110 Bengaluru outskirts’ villages from water tanker cartels, BWSSB plans to set up 10 Cauvery Connect Centres, offering 6,000 liters of Cauvery water for ₹90. However, residents must arrange their own tankers for transportation, leading many to question how this solves the problem.

Currently, hiring a tanker costs between ₹400 and ₹700 for 5,000 liters. Locals argue that BWSSB’s move does little to curb the mafia since they still depend on private tankers. “How can this be a solution when we still need to rely on tankers?” asks Munnekolala resident Anita Desai. Others fear that tanker operators will hike rates further, leading to bidding wars for water supply.

BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar defends the initiative, emphasizing that their primary goal is expanding direct Cauvery connections. BWSSB’s 42 tankers are reserved for emergencies, not routine delivery. Officials insist that providing water via tankers is not their responsibility and that residents must manage transportation independently.

With summer approaching, many fear this system will only deepen dependence on the tanker network instead of eliminating it.

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