With a water crisis looming large in the country’s Silicon Valley, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) banned the use of drinking water for cleaning vehicles, gardening, construction, and other recreational purposes on Friday. The metropolitan administration has introduced penalties for wasting drinking water as the city grapples with an acute shortage, aiming to promote judicious use of water.
The board has recommended economical use of drinking water, considering the crisis. City residents have been urged to avoid using drinking water for washing vehicles, construction, entertainment purposes, and at cinema halls and malls (except for drinking purposes).
A penalty of `5,000 will be imposed on violators, and in case of repetitions, they will be fined an additional amount of `500 each time, the board has decided. Bengaluru, with its population of 1.3 crore, faces a shortfall of over 1,500 MLD (Million Liters Per Day) in its daily water needs, which range between 2,600-2,800 MLD.
Not just Bengaluru, parts of Tumakuru and Uttara Kannada districts have also been identified as susceptible to water shortage by the revenue department. As many as 236 taluks in the state have been declared drought-hit, with 219 facing severe consequences.
The State Government is exploring solutions to deal with the crisis, including recycled and treated water from residents’ associations. Helpline and control rooms set up by the Government are overwhelmed, while authorities are trying to crack down on illicit water tanker operations.
Tanker costs have also surged, prompting the Bangalore City District Collector to fix the rates for 200 privately operated tankers for four-month duration. Malls and cinema halls have also been instructed to use water only for drinking, cleaning of roads, and other cleaning works. “As per the BWSSB Act 1964, Articles 33 and 34, we have decided to ban the usage of drinking water for non-essential purposes,” the BWSSB order reads.
According to BWSSB data, Bengaluru city has a population of 14 million, including the floating population. “It is crucial to supply drinking water to the 1.40 crore population of Bengaluru city. With the summer heat intensifying and groundwater resources depleting, it is necessary to stop the wastage of drinking water to ensure its availability for citizens,” the order reads.
BWSSB chairman Ram Prasath Manohar explained the measures taken by the board to address the water crisis. “There is no water scarcity in areas where Kaveri water is supplied. The issue lies in the rest of the city where the Kaveri water supply has not yet commenced. The actual demand in Bengaluru city is 1,450 MLD per day, and we are currently supplying 1,470 MLD to meet the demand,” Manohar said.
When asked about the feasibility of identifying violations across the city, Manohar said, “We have directed meter readers to patrol their areas daily to observe any violations. We also request that citizens help us conserve water by reporting any misuse. Citizens can inform us, and we will take swift action.”