Amidst rising water tanker prices, BWSSB launches Sanchari Cauvery initiative-OxBig News Network

The much-awaited Sanchari Cauvery initiative, where the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will provide Cauvery water in tankers, was launched on Friday.

Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who launched the Kaveri on Wheels app on Friday, said the it was brought to control the “water tanker mafia”.

“This water tanker mafia has drilled over 3,000 borewells and have been fleecing people up to ₹3,000 per load of water. We have started this initiative to curb this. Bengaluru is the first city in the country to provide BIS certified drinking water from a river in tankers,” he said.

BWSSB has roped in 250 water tankers and established 55 Cauvery Connect Centres, essentially large water tankers, mostly in the outer zones to run the initiative, said Ram Prasath Manohar, chairman, BWSSB. He also said the board has launched the dedicated app and a website for citizens to book water tankers. “Customers can book water tankers, make the payment, and track the tankers on the app. Water will be delivered within 24 hours,” he said.

Details of the tanker and the driver will also be shared, and a helpline will be available for grievance redressal, he added.

The cost of a 12,000-litre tanker load of water supplied by BWSSB will be ₹1,290, within a 2-km radius and ₹70 a km thereafter.

Residents of the outer zones still dependent on water tankers lament that it has been launched only as the summer is drawing to a close and the monsoon will set in less than three weeks. “This is a great initiative, the decision for which was taken when the crisis was at its peak. But by the time it has been implemented, the summer is almost drawing to a close,” said Jagadish Reddy of Varthur Rising.

However, BWSSB sources said that this would not be limited to the summer alone and will be a permanent programme.

Meanwhile, the prices of water tankers in the city have crossed the ₹1,500 and ₹1,700 mark for a tanker load of 12,000 litres in areas where apartments are still to get water connections under Cauvery V Stage.

A businessman who runs a fleet of water tankers in Mahadevapura zone, who did not wish to be named, said that with the Cauvery V Stage, the demand had indeed fallen in some pockets and that had hit the overall business of water tankers.

“We have a few pockets and apartments who still have contracts with us. Meanwhile, groundwater levels have been depleting, and diesel prices increased this summer sending the costs of extracting and transporting groundwater northwards. Given that we also have lost customers this summer, we are forced to jack up prices and recover our costs from the existing customer base,” he said.

Sarala Cauvery EMI option for Cauvery connections

Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) also launched Sarala Cauvery, an initiative where residents get an option to pay the charges to get a connection in 12 EMIs, on Friday.

While apartment complexes can make a down payment of 20% of the total charges initially and pay the rest in 12 EMIs, connections for houses less than 600 sq. ft, mostly the urban poor, can get a new connection by paying just ₹1,000 and pay the rest in 12 EMIs.

“This initiative is designed to support the urban poor, middle-class families, and apartment communities,” Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar said.

₹100 crore set aside for Cauvery Aarti at KRS

Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D. K. Shivakumar said the Water Resources Department had set aside ₹100 crore to conduct Cauvery Aarti, on the lines of Ganga Aarti at Krishnaraja Sagar. “We have formed a committee, including Departments of Kannada and Culture, Tourism and Muzrai Departments, and BWSSB chairman Ram Prasath Manohar who successfully conducted Cauvery Aarti at Sankey Tank in Bengaluru has been appointed its chairman,” he said.

Sources said that the government was planning to make seating arrangements for 10,000 people at the venue and the event will likely be held during Dasara celebrations later this year. The programme has drawn criticism from multiple quarters, including Peoples’ Union of Civil Liberties Karnataka, who have said the money should be instead used to clear the river of pollution.

Meanwhile, Mr. Shivakumar brushed aside opposition to the ₹1,900 crore project to fill tanks in Nelamangala with treated water from the Vrishabhavathi Valley, for which he laid the foundation stone on Thursday. He said the project had been successful in Kolar and the water will further get purified when it steeps into the ground and recharge the groundwater level. He also said those opposing the project were not farmers. 

No tourists at dams

Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the State government has not only tightened security at all dams in the State, but had also banned tourists visiting any dams. “Only technical personnel will be allowed near dams till further orders. This is a matter of national security and people must cooperate,” he said.