The water crisis in Bengaluru has made it worse than ever to live in the IT hub. The El Nino effect’s limited rainfall in 2023 has eliminated, not just decreased, the groundwater table. Numerous borewells in and around the city, including DK Shivakumar’s, the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, have dried up. The water supply to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home also comes from tankers.
Due to the water problem, people who possess upscale apartments in Bengaluru are now using mall restrooms instead of traditional classrooms or workplaces. To address the issue, the government has imposed stringent limitations on the amount of water that can be used in the home for non-drinking uses.
A serious water crisis is affecting Bengaluru, affecting even well-known individuals such as Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. The Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board has now outlawed the use of drinking water for anything from building and maintenance to car washing, gardening, and water fountains. In addition, if the directive is broken, there is a 5000 rupee fine.
Water crisis in Bengaluru | Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board bans usage of drinking water for car washing, gardening, construction, water fountains and road construction and maintenance. It also imposes a fine of Rs 5000, if the order is violated.
— ANI (@ANI) March 8, 2024
Bengaluru’s industry, colleges, and other educational facilities, including coaching sessions, have also been negatively impacted by the water problem. While many offices have instructed their staff to work from home, some academic institutions have announced that they will hold all of their lectures and classes remotely for one week.
The district administration of Bengaluru put price limitations on the water tanker services that locals use on Wednesday. 200 private tankers were contracted for a four-month period, and rates were set based on suggestions made by a technical advisory council.
In a circular issued by Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner Dayananda KA, it was announced that all taluks within the Bengaluru Urban district have been declared drought-affected. He further stated that private water tanker services are subject to the Goods and Services Tax (GST), thus the rates quoted include GST charges.
#BengaluruWaterCrisis: Residents of Prestige Falcon City forced to use nearby Forum Mall washrooms due to severe water shortage. 🚿💧 @sanyaj1 gets us more details on the water shortage in Bengaluru⏬https://t.co/sQjh1i3WBK#WaterScarcity #Bengaluru #Water
— Moneycontrol (@moneycontrolcom) March 8, 2024
Residents of a gated community in Bengaluru are reportedly forced to visit a nearby mall on a regular basis to use the toilet facilities because of the city’s worsening water issue. Prestige Falcon City, a posh neighborhood on Kanakapura Road, is severely affected by the city’s water shortage. Residents are queuing up at the neighboring Forum Mall for restroom access, despite their best attempts to reduce water consumption by using disposable dining utensils.
A Reddit post highlights the challenges faced by residents of Prestige Falcon City. According to the Reddit user “Familiar-Art-8675,” it has been over a month since the community experienced consistent, uninterrupted water supply.
The user further stated that numerous tenants have left their apartments, while others have sought temporary housing solutions. Those remaining have resorted to using disposable plates for meals or opting for takeout to minimize water consumption for dishwashing and cooking.
The scenario that is developing in a posh apartment building presents a dismal image. For many, the situation is very bad because they are paying EMIs on house loans that are more than Rs 1 lakh, yet they are not getting even water.
The acute scarcity of water in Karnataka, particularly in Bengaluru, the state capital, is the cause of the current emergency. One of the worst water crises in recent memory has been brought on by 2023’s low rainfall, which the Indian Meteorological Department has linked to the El Niño phenomena.
Water tankers traversing Bengaluru’s streets have become a prevalent sight. Owing to heightened demand for water, suppliers have escalated their prices from Rs 700 to a range between Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,800 per tanker. Residents Welfare Associations (RWA) in the city are under scrutiny from their members for purportedly failing to implement sufficient measures to alleviate the water crisis.
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