BENGALURU, 4 MARCH

The water crisis in Bengaluru has reached critical levels, with residents facing severe difficulties in booking water tankers for their daily needs after Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced the State government's decision to take control of all private water tankers to address the situation.

However, despite this intervention, residents are still struggling to secure water supply because the private water tankers are not willing to supply water until they receive the licence from the government.

The situation remains grim across the City as many RO water plants are not functioning and there is a severe shortage of water tankers who prefer to cater to hotels and restaurants early in the morning hours before the demand heats up. Many Residents' Welfare Associations in the City have banned car washing and temporarily closed down swimming pools. Many residents have expressed frustration over the situation, highlighting the unavailability of private tankers and government orders without providing them the alternative solution.

Despite efforts to contact authorities like Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, residents have reported a lack of response.

The situation is particularly dire in areas such as Kanakapura Road. S Thimmappa, who stays there, said, “Six years back they put the pipeline to supply Cauvery water and we still did not hear any progress yet and now we are not get water because the water level is less.” Sanjeev Jhamb said, “There is no water at our apartment in Konanakunte for two days and in our apartment we are getting only one hour of water.”

Similarly, residents in South Bengaluru areas like Nagarbhavi , Horamavu, Banaswadi and Annapoorneshwari Layout have experienced irregular water supply, exacerbating the crisis.