On Bangalore outskirts, water price doubles
BANGALORE: Water is GS Ramanna's biggest headache. The 65-year-old resident of Sidedahalli, north-west Bangalore, buys water from private operators who supply through tankers. Ramanna's water bill has doubled in the past 12 months. He paid Rs 250-300 for a tankerful of water, about 4,000 litres, last year; he shells out Rs 600 now. And summer demand will push prices higher.
Ramanna says: "Cauvery water is still a distant dream. The groundwater level has fallen to 1,100 feet. Those who dig borewells get contaminated water. Supply through BWSSB tankers is just once a week."
Amrutha G Katte of Channasandra in the Mahadevapura zone says residents depend on private tankers despite exorbitant rates. "Those who can't afford tankers buy water in pots. A pot costs Rs 3-5. We are in no man's land. While erstwhile panchayat representatives are not bothered because we are not their voters, the corporators are yet to connect with our problems. We don't come under the erstwhile CMCs either."
Private suppliers have jacked up rates because the demand is high. Ramesh S of Siddalingeshwara Water Supply in the Byatarayanapura zone says: "If the destination is close by, we charge Rs 350-400. As the distance increases, the rate goes up."
The 110 villages (covering 225 sqkm) added to Greater Bangalore are spread across different zones: Bommanahalli, Mahadevapura, Byatarayanapura, Rajarajeshwarinagar and Dasarahalli. The IT City tag holds no meaning for them because they lack one of the most basic facilities.
Of the 490 borewells maintained by the BWSSB, 169 have been declared contaminated; the level of dissolved solids in them has crossed the permissible 500 mg/litre. Eighty other borewells are defunct. Water from the remaining 241 borewells is just not enough.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/On-Bangalore-outskirts-water-price-doubles/articleshow/34132760.cms
Ramanna says: "Cauvery water is still a distant dream. The groundwater level has fallen to 1,100 feet. Those who dig borewells get contaminated water. Supply through BWSSB tankers is just once a week."
Amrutha G Katte of Channasandra in the Mahadevapura zone says residents depend on private tankers despite exorbitant rates. "Those who can't afford tankers buy water in pots. A pot costs Rs 3-5. We are in no man's land. While erstwhile panchayat representatives are not bothered because we are not their voters, the corporators are yet to connect with our problems. We don't come under the erstwhile CMCs either."
Private suppliers have jacked up rates because the demand is high. Ramesh S of Siddalingeshwara Water Supply in the Byatarayanapura zone says: "If the destination is close by, we charge Rs 350-400. As the distance increases, the rate goes up."
The 110 villages (covering 225 sqkm) added to Greater Bangalore are spread across different zones: Bommanahalli, Mahadevapura, Byatarayanapura, Rajarajeshwarinagar and Dasarahalli. The IT City tag holds no meaning for them because they lack one of the most basic facilities.
Of the 490 borewells maintained by the BWSSB, 169 have been declared contaminated; the level of dissolved solids in them has crossed the permissible 500 mg/litre. Eighty other borewells are defunct. Water from the remaining 241 borewells is just not enough.
Read More Here - TOI - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/On-Bangalore-outskirts-water-price-doubles/articleshow/34132760.cms