The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Lingarajpuram residents cry for water

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Saturday, Jul 19, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Lingarajpuram residents cry for water

V. Ramesh

Supply is erratic and is often barely more than a trickle

— A file photo

precious: Residents collecting water from a BWSSB tanker at Lingarajapuram.

BANGALORE: Erratic and inadequate drinking water supply has been the bane of life in Lingarajapuram in the last two months.

The area gets water supply twice a week — on Thursday and Monday. On those days, the supply is in trickles and just for a few minutes.

A few weeks ago, following a representation by the Lingarajapuram Residents’ Welfare Association, the engineer concerned of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) changed the timings of the supply. While the revised schedule was followed for a couple of weeks, the supply has been irregular.

“We have to abandon our work and wait for water as we do not know when the supply will start,” said Vijayaraghavan, who lives in Siddaramappa Garden. Women, mostly from poor families, fetch water in plastic pots on bicycles.

Worst hit

“The elderly and the sick are the worst hit as they are alone at home and are forced to buy packaged water,” he said.

Most of the houses in the area have water taps fixed just about 10 inches above the ground level because of the low pressure. Now, plumbers are being asked to fix these taps one foot below the ground level; so weak has been the pressure. Sumps are half-full, adding to the stress levels of office-goers. Private water suppliers do brisk business in the area. “We usually get water bill for about 30,000 litres a month. But for the last two months, the supply has been 10,000 to 15,000 litres a month,” Tony Swamy said.

When the residents called the BWSSB sub-division at Kasturinagar last week, the board officials immediately arranged for supply of water through tankers to some pockets.

“A few days ago, the engineers said some miscreants had closed the control valve at Hutchins Road and some of us from the association went to the spot with the board staff and got the valve opened,” Mr. Swamy said.

Stock reply

Association secretary S.R. Sampathkumar said: “They are not giving us proper reasons as to why the water supply is erratic all of a sudden. The officials blame it either on defective valves or lack of supply at the Machalibetta reservoir, from where this area gets water. We are aware of the problem. We will look into it, is the standard reply that we get from the board,” Mr. Sampathkumar said.

While a few families buy water from private suppliers, it is the poor, mostly living in rented houses, who bear the brunt. “The problem lies with defective valves in the line on some streets and the fluctuating storage at Machalibetta reservoir from where the area gets water. We have replaced some valves and the situation has improved. The problem will be sorted out in the next cycle of supply,” said an official of the BWSSB who did not wish to be quoted.

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