Thirsting for Cauvery

Thirsting for Cauvery

Strong urge to drink Cauvery water


Faiza Haneef
First Published : 11 Jul 2009 09:25:42 AM IST
Last Updated : 11 Jul 2009 09:35:49 AM IST

BANGALORE: While the entire country talks about floods and droughts, a part of Bangalore has not received a single drop of the promised Cauvery water. Six years ago, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewarage Board (BWSSB) had promised KR Puram its fair share of water.

Even now, parts of KR Puram are waiting for the promised Cauvery water. These areas do not even get bore water. Several complaints by the residents and assurances by the authorities of Water Board have gone in vain. The residents have paid a heavy deposit of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 depending on the site area in the 2004 to the water board towards the supply of drinking water.

But till now the money has translated to nothing. “The pipes for the supply of Cauvery water have been laid in several parts of the area but there is no supply of water yet. We have to depend of the water from the private tankers who charge not less than 250 per load which can be adjusted for almost a week,” said M Shivaji Rao, a resident of Rammurthynagar.

Several complaints have been reported to both to the executive engineer concerned and to the Commissioner of BWSSB. “While the sources from the Commissioner’s office have said that the water would be supplied only by 2012, but the engineers from the area office state that the water has already been supplied in these localities,” said Rao. Rao and other residents demand that the BWSSB should make alternate arrangement for the supply of bore water in case the supply of Cauvery water is delayed. With no alternate arrangement, the residents spend Rs 250 to Rs 300 per load. Those who cannot affort this, have to depend on the borewell water which are situated really far.

Speaking to Express, sources from the BWSSB said,”As far as KR Puram is concerned, there is no problem with the supply of water so far and we are supplying Cauvery water to about 72 wards out of 250 wards there. The problem in Rammurthynagar is because there has not been a cent per cent user fee charges and it is only 20 percent people who have paid the amount.

However, we will definetely look into the problem at this particular area and will direct the officials to supply the water on a regular basis.”