BENGALURU, 28 FEB

Bengaluru has been grappling with severe water shortages for nearly a month now, with the situation worsening with each passing day. As water sources diminish, the demand for water tankers has surged, leading to some operators exploiting the situation by hiking prices.

Water tanker suppliers are receiving 40-50 calls per day, which is more than double the usual demand before the summer began. Additionally, the time required to fill up tankers has also increased significantly. Previously, filling a 12,000-litre tanker took half an hour, but now it takes over 3 hours due to decreased water levels.

The absence of a regulatory framework governing water tanker prices has resulted in unpredictable and inflated charges. In severely affected areas like Whitefield and Varthur, prices have skyrocketed to as high as Rs 2,500 for a 12,000-litre load.

Even smaller quantities, such as a 4,000-litre tractor load, demand prices ranging from Rs 700 to Rs 1,000, while a 6,000-litre tanker load costs between Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500.

Saketh, an IT employee who heads a family of nine in Mahalakshmi Layout, told Salar News that his area is facing a water crisis. “We have to call the tanker every other day. If it goes like this, then we would be shelling out around Rs 40,000 monthly only on water.”

BBMP Commissioner Tushar Girinath said out of a total of 3,500 tankers in the City, only 54 have trade licences. “By 7 March, all the water tankers in the City should register or they will be seized.” 

Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials said they are trying to find new sources to supply water. They are also considering repurposing sewage treatment plant water for non-drinking purposes such as car wash and gardening.

While some areas like HBR Layout continue to maintain stable prices at Rs 400 for a 6,000-litre tanker, others such as Horamavu, KR Puram and Kengeri witness inflated rates of Rs 2,500 per tanker. Residents said the water tanker mafia is forcing them to shell out hefty sums ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,500 for murky water.

The situation has become dire, often requiring residents to book water tankers days in advance. Ganesh, a member of the Kankagiri Residents’ Association, described the process as tedious, stating, “The water tank operators agree to come for Rs 1,000 per 6,000-litre load initially. However, if someone offers Rs 1,500, they prioritize that request over ours.”-Salar News