Residents of the city struggling to quench their thirst

Water mafia capitalizing on scarcity of clean drinking water

Clean water plants increase prices from Rs 5 to Rs 10 for 20 litres of water

Bengaluru finds itself increasingly parched, with the residents of the city struggling to quench their thirst amidst the scarcity of clean drinking water.

Taking advantage of this dire situation, some individuals have surreptitiously formed a mafia, capitalizing on the desperation of the populace for clean drinking water. It appears that alongside the notorious tanker mafia, filter water mafia has also emerged, exacerbating the city’s water woes.

As water demand surges, so does the influence of these mafias, with reports indicating that the tanker mafia is now extending its reach to control clean water plants, arbitrarily increasing prices from Rs 5 to Rs 10.

In Kachohalli of Chikkagollaratti in Yelahanka, the same problem unfolds, where 20 litres of water now cost a price of Rs 10 instead of the previous Rs 5. Raju, a member of the Kachohalli panchayat, who oversees the RO plant situated on government land stands accused of profiteering by doubling the rates. Locals allege that any inquiry into these exorbitant charges is met with indifference and threats.

Raju defends his actions, asserting, “There is a water shortage. I manage this plant on government land, paying an annual fee of 48 thousand to Panchayat. The demand for water is soaring, and prices have surged accordingly. The panchayat never sanctioned the rate hike. Charging Rs 5 yields no profit; therefore, I adjusted the price to Rs 10.”

While the establishment of clean water plants aimed to alleviate the plight of the impoverished, the emergence of mafias has only compounded the challenges faced by the disadvantaged populace.