Scarcity of water has left citizens with no option but to call water tankers

Water mafia has been plundering money from gullible water seekers

BWSSB responsible for fixing price for water tankers as it is the body concerned

All thanks to the scorching sun, Bengalureans are forced to bear the heat. While that is one challenge they are struggling to meet, the scarcity of water has left them with no other option but to call water tankers. And here’s the other challenge. Using this adversity as an opportunity, the water mafia has been plundering money from gullible water seekers. In fact ST Somashekhar, MLA Yeshwantpur has himself expressed anguish over what has happened. He has approached Deputy CM DK Shivakumar with the plea to stem the rot. In his constituency, he has fixed it at Rs 800 per tanker. If there’s any excess demand, the tanker will be seized, he has warned.

Even as people struggle to meet their water demands, one important question that has cropped up is: Who will bell the cat? Is it BBMP or is it BWSSB? While the two rack their brains, it is to be noted that there is no suitable law to rein in the unscrupulous elements.

However, if you ask Tushar Girinath, BBMP Commissioner, he stresses that it is the BWSSB that should fix a price as it is the body concerned that issues licenses to the water tankers.

The effect seems to be cascading. PG centres in the city have asked their inmates to consume lesser litres of water. While the city faces such acute shortage of water even before summer sets in, one wonders what will be the plight of people once summer kicks in. Many people have submitted numerable petitions to the government to fix a price.