Bengaluru Water Crisis: Karnataka forbids using drinking water for gardening and fines violators Rs 5,000

Bengaluru Water Crisis Latest Update: The Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board made a significant decision on Friday, prohibiting the use of drinking water for construction, car washing, gardening, water fountains, and road construction and maintenance. This comes as the water crisis in Bengaluru continues to worsen. In addition, the board stipulated that violators would be subject to a fine of Rs 5,000.

The development follows persistent claims that owners of tanker trucks are extorting customers, which prompted the Bengaluru city district administration to issue an order on Thursday setting the price of tanker water.

Following the filing of a petition by the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board on behalf of the Bangalore Metropolitan Corporation, Bengaluru City District Collector, KA Dayanand, issued the circular, speaking with ANI. According to the district administration, the technical committee’s recommendations served as the basis for setting this rate.

A 6000-liter water tanker will cost Rs 600, an 8000-liter water tanker will cost Rs 700, and a 12,000-liter water tanker will cost Rs 1000 for a distance of up to 5 km, according to the Bengaluru district administration.

A 6000-litre water tanker will cost Rs 750, an 8000-litre water tanker will cost Rs 850, and a 12,000-litre water tanker will cost Rs 1200 if the distance is between 5 and 10 km.

According to the order, private tankers supplying water in Bengaluru city district will be subject to GST, which will be added to these rates, since collectors have designated all taluks as drought-prone.

The Karnataka government convened a crucial meeting earlier this week to discuss the dire water crisis that is plaguing the city.

In the Legislative Assembly, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar declared that irrigation and water management projects would take precedence over other undertakings.

“Developing irrigation projects and filling tanks are the top priorities. Roads and other projects will be tackled later. Shivakumar stated, “We have already discussed this with the Chief Minister.”

In addition, the state’s water tanker owners have received a warning from the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CM) that their vessels will be seized by the government if they fail to register with the authorities by the deadline of March 7.

Just 10%, or 219 tankers, of Bengaluru City’s 3,500 water tankers are registered with the authorities. If they don’t register by the deadline, the government will confiscate them, he declared.

Water is a resource that belongs to the government and is not the property of any one person. It is legal for the government to seize authority over water supplies. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials have been told to be ready to supply water from regions with an abundance of groundwater. 210 tankers are currently being used by the BWSSB to supply water. The provision of water will not be impeded by the election code of conduct, he continued.