Water tankers jack up rates in Bengaluru as summer months set in

BENGALURU: With the summer approaching, the fear of water shortage is already lurking. Meanwhile, cashing in on the demand, water tankers are increasing their prices as the summer is setting in.

Many water tankers supply water without proper trade licence and do not follow rules. The BWSSB is struggling to supply Cauvery water across the city at the start of the summer season.

Each tanker now costs about Rs 600 for 1,4000 litres of water and Rs 800-1,000 for 7,000 litres of water.

The groundwater level in the city decreases by more than 20 per cent during the summer and water scarcity is already being felt in wards under Chamarajpet, which has the highest number of slums as there is no storage space to store the water. Each tanker now costs about Rs 600 for 1,4000 litres of water and Rs 800-1,000 for 7,000 litres of water. Local MLAs, BWSSB, BBMP officials and deputy commissioner have now planned to take action against illegal supply of water tankers.

Suresh, BWSSB Engineer-in-Chief said there is adequate water for supply.

“We do annual maintenance of all water tankers with BWSSB. The internal surface of the water tanker is EPI (ethoxylated polyimine)-coated to prevent hazardous chemical reactions between the tank’s metal and the salts that are dissolved in the water. Drinking water is supplied after it has been tested in the RO plant. We have enough water and there are low chances of water shortage in the city. We are supplying water to 51 villages under the BBMP once a week. After the completion of the Cauvery water project, we will supply water to the remaining villages”, said BWSSB Engineer-in-Chief B Suresh.