The Hindu          02.03.2015   

‘Water mafia’ gets busy in new BBMP areas as summer approaches

As summer approaches, water has already become a scarce commodity in most new areas in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits.

With underground water being the only source for residents of newly added areas (the erstwhile seven city municipal councils, one town municipal council and 110 villages that were added to the BBMP limits), a parallel water supply system is working right under the nose of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).

Exploiting the situation and forcing residents to pay through their nose is a “water mafia” that also involves local politicians and valvemen. Residents who own borewells and erstwhile city municipal council valvemen are making hay. This network is well established, for example, in Hongasandra and Begur wards.

Residents here can get regular piped water from both private and community borewells if they are ready to pay.

In New Mico Layout, borewell owners have drawn pipelines from the borewell point to houses. These lines crisscross open drainages and storm-water drains. In some places, they even run along drains, leaving enough scope for water contamination.

This apart, valvemen, allegedly in connivance with local politicians, have drawn a similar pipeline network from community borewell points to houses. Although these are community borewells and are meant for free supply, the valvemen collect charges from each house. A source alleged that a part of this money goes to the local politician.

Madhu, a valveman who manages the supply in New Mico Layout, said it was a regular supply for two to three hours in each area. He said there was no fixed charge and residents usually pay him between Rs. 50 and Rs. 100 a month.

C. Siddaiah, a resident of 16th Main ‘B’ Cross in this area, said this system ensured that residents had a regular supply. “Otherwise we have to pay heavy amounts for tanker water,” he said.

A senior BWSSB official said, “We have not got any complaints from people about being fleeced by valvemen. If there is any specific complaint, we will take action.”