Residents’ disinterest in applying for Cauvery water connection under phase-5 project stumps BWSSB

BENGALURU: Residents of the city, who were worried about water shortage in summer, seem to be going slow in applying for Cauvery water connection under the phase-5 project. According to BWSSB, residents of localities which will be covered under the project are not coming forward to register for water connections even though BWSSB officials went doorsteps. Hence, the BWSSB has now decided to go to the field itself and create awareness about Cauvery water connections.

Board chairman Ram Prasath Manohar said that the Cauvery phase- 5 project to supply drinking water to 110 villages on the outskirts of Bengaluru has reached the final stage and is likely to be launched in the second week of June. “It has been many days since we invited applications for water connections, but the people of these areas are not coming forward to get a connection”, he rued.

Manohar said the board can give three lakh connections, but only 48,000 applications have been received. “This shows that people are not interested in Cauvery water connections. The BWSSB has now planned to visit door-to-door to increase Cauvery connections and create awareness among the public. The board has been preparing a campaign in the villages under the theme ‘Manemanege Jalamandali’ since the first week of June”, he added.

Major reason for residents showing less interest in Cauvery water connection:

Some people are upset because they get water bills even when there is water shortage.

Some others fear they may have problems with the CMC water connection after getting Cauvery water connection.

Monsoon is approaching and borewells will get recharged.

Lack of information in many places.