Bengaluru 9 May

In a major step towards ensuring clean and reliable water access in the city, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) on Friday launched two ambitious schemes — 'Sarvarigu Sanchari Cauvery' and 'Mane Bagilige Sarala Cauvery' — to deliver BIS-certified Cauvery water directly to residents via mobile-booked tankers.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar inaugurated the initiative at Vidhana Soudha, calling it a "people-centric solution" to the growing summer water crisis and a strong move against the unregulated private tanker mafia.

The schemes, currently in pilot mode, use a web-based mobile application allowing users to book water tankers through https://owc.bwssb.gov.in/member/register. Features include secure OTP-based delivery, GPS tracking of tankers, digital payments, and real-time status updates.

BWSSB Chairman V Ram Prasat Manohar said the software ensures transparency with pre-calculated charges based on water volume and delivery distance. Each tanker, fitted with GPS and RFID systems, will draw Cauvery water from over 100 connect points — beginning with 50 in Phase I — targeting areas without piped water, especially in East Bengaluru.

Deliveries, limited to 6am to 10pm daily, must be booked 24 hours in advance. Tankers, with 6,000 and 12,000-litre capacities, can make up to eight trips per day. The scheme operates on a "no profit, no loss" basis, the Chairman added.

The move is expected to regulate demand, eliminate middlemen, prevent misuse, and ensure water quality for all.