Quenching Bengalureans thirst and supplying tap water to the
city is the most expensive affair, and is dipping into the BWSSB finances on a
daily basis. A hike in water rates by BWSSB is always condemned, followed by a massive
outrage in media, and then it ends in political fireworks and a price roll
back.
Households without BWSSB connections or less of it are
drawing underground water from the tube wells in their premises or dependent on
private water tanker supply system (the infamous water mafia). On one hand it is
an environmental disaster in the making, as excess drawing of ground water and
less than 30% of it getting recharged, the ground water will dry up sooner or
later. On the other hand is the huge disparity in the cost one pays to buy water.
A household in a slum pays Rs2-5 for a pot of water, a resident
in an apartment block buys tanker supplied water (6000 litres) at Rs300-800 and
a household with BWSSB connection pay Rs7/KL of metered water. The glaring disparity
is not just unfair but undemocratic too, why should households of the same city
have to pay different cost for water they consume?
On an average a person needs 80-120 litres of water per day
to lead a hygienic and healthy life, and access to clean affordable water is
indeed a right of every citizen. The lopsided supply of water does not address
the minimum requirement of water to keep the citizens hygienic and healthy. It’s
common knowledge that water tanker mafia aid the local politicians to control their vote banks in smaller colonies, and to make windfall profits by supplying
water to affluent apartment blocks. Hence there has been no urgency or
political will to make rational changes to the system and to improve the water
supply situation in Bengaluru.
Honorable CM Shri Siddaramaiah who is also the Minister in-charge
of BWSSB has to review the water supply situation and fix the unfair disparities.
With increasing influx of people into the city there will be an excess strain
on resources, it’s practically impossible to keep drawing water from 100-200
kms from different rivers and also draining out ground water.
Suggestions to BWSSB, and tough measures:
BWSSB should use the BBMP GIS mapping and connect all the properties in Bengaluru to its network, making it mandatory for every household to have a BWSSB water connection. When a property is linked to BBMP Taxes and BESCOM power supply there is no reason why the Sewage and Water connections are not made mandatory.
Supply 80-120 litres of water per person per day to every household, at an average of 5 people per household at a subsidized rate, and charge any additional usage at actual operating cost. Charging at actual operating cost above the basic necessity automatically forces reduction in usage; it promotes conservation and increases adoption of rainwater harvesting methods.
BWSSB should use the BBMP GIS mapping and connect all the properties in Bengaluru to its network, making it mandatory for every household to have a BWSSB water connection. When a property is linked to BBMP Taxes and BESCOM power supply there is no reason why the Sewage and Water connections are not made mandatory.
Supply 80-120 litres of water per person per day to every household, at an average of 5 people per household at a subsidized rate, and charge any additional usage at actual operating cost. Charging at actual operating cost above the basic necessity automatically forces reduction in usage; it promotes conservation and increases adoption of rainwater harvesting methods.
Ban drilling of tube wells for at least next 10 years,
register and meter all the existing tube wells in the city and charge the water
drawn from tube wells, but also reward recharge and harvesting methods.
Shut-down private water tanker operations, as the menace
of controlling water for votes or gains should end. In a civilised society and in a
democratic set-up there should be no room for controlling of voices & votes
via water.
Yes, many concerned citizens have taken to water
conservation and rainwater harvesting in a big way, hats off to them, but their
efforts alone will not solve the water problems of the city. There has to be changes
at the Legislative level, and the current Karnataka Government has a great
opportunity to bring in the much needed changes to the way water is supplied
and priced in Bengaluru. However unpopular and politically challenging the
changes are, it should be done as its good for the city and its citizens.
Water for all can become a reality if the Government uses
a carrot & stick approach, by rewarding conservation and punishing excess
usage.
-Kavitha
Reddy
Also published in Jagran City Plus HSR Layout Edition 03rd Jan 2015 Click