Silicon Valley is reeling under a water crisis. A city, which sees people from various parts of the country becoming a part of its crowd, given the employment opportunities, is making headlines because of its water woes.
In a recent development, most schools and colleges in Bengaluru have shifted to offline mode. Work from home until the monsoon hits the state is a call echoing from several parts of the city.
The Karnataka government and other bodies are making efforts to tackle the drought situation in Bengaluru. Let us take a look at the measures they have or are trying to implement.
- Although all the schools and institutions have not shifted to online mode of education, some educational institutes have opted for it. Water conservation measures have been taken up by the institutions on their campuses. Using recycled water for washing and cleaning and other purposes. Some educational institutes have expressed concern that exams are nearing, so switching to offline mode of education is not viable. Professionals are returning to their hometown after applying for work from home.
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The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has imposed restrictions on usage of drinking water in swimming pools. BWSSB has made it clear that those found violating the directive will be penalised with a fine of Rs 5,000 and an additional penalty of Rs 500 per day. A law, too, in this regard will be imposed from March 15.
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Civic bodies in the city have taken the measure to refill drying lakes with treated water. It has been found that around 50 per cent of borewells in Bengaluru have dried up. Hence, 1,300 million litres per day would be supplied to restock groundwater sources. BWSSB is trying to install filter borewells and construct water plants as well.
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BWSSB has also extended the registration deadlines for private water tanker owners till March 15 to encourage more water suppliers and tackle the water mafia.
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The Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar has said that the unused milk tankers will be brought to use. They will be utilised to ferry water.
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Bengaluru City District Collector KA Dayanand have fixed rates for water tankers, by issuing a circular. If the distance between the target site and the water tanker location is up to 5 km, a 6,000-litre water tanker will cost ₹600, an 8,000-litre water tanker will cost ₹700, while a 12,000-litre water tanker will cost ₹1,000. If the distance is between 5 and 10 km, a 6,000-litre water tanker will cost ₹750, an 8,000-litre water tanker will cost ₹850, and a 12,000-litre water tanker will cost ₹1,200, the notice stated.
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Residents are implementing emergency measures on their own and are issuing instructions to stop washing cars and balconies, bathe with half a bucket of water and use and use wastewater from Aquaguard filters to mop the floor and bathrooms.
The BWSSB Chairman, Ram Prasath Manohar, has said that Bengaluru requires a total of 2,100 MLD of potable water, out of which 1,450 MLD comes from the Cauvery River. The concern over water from the Cauvery river has become a point of political debate now. The Bharatiya Janata Party is protesting against the Congress for giving Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, where the party is in alliance with the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.
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