Karnataka - Bangalore   

`Urban poor families spend Rs. 450 a month on water'

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: Intermittent water supply and lack of reliability on it had led to increase in unsafe water and high costs for the urban poor, Anand K. Jalakam, Project Development Specialist for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), said on Thursday.

Speaking at an interactive session on "Urban water services — the need for reforms", organised by the Bangalore International Centre, Mr. Jalakam said a study showed that the monthly expense for an urban poor family was Rs. 450 a month while the monthly minimum for a middle class family was Rs. 115.

This study conducted at Laksman Rao Nagar slum in the city showed that the cost of drinking water was Rs. 10 a day while the expenses at Sulabh toilets was Rs. 14.50 a day.

In the interactive session, participants called for institutional reforms in the form of corporatisation. Without these, distribution losses could not be overcome, said a few participants. Accountability in service delivery needed to be introduced. Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Commissioner K. Jairaj spoke.

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