While warnings that Bengaluru may soon run out of water may be far from the truth, for now at least, the scramble for water is a daily anxiety for many in the city.
Water is a once-in-four-days commodity for Janaki, whose house in Jakkur Layout of Byatarayanapura constituency lacks piped supply of Cauvery water. She relies on pipes of the erstwhile town municipal corporation. If any of the old pipes in the area get damaged, and this happens often, there may be no water for up to 15 days.
“There have been times when residents collect money to fix the pipes... We can’t afford tankers. During such periods, we take cans and try to get water from community taps in neighbouring areas,” she says.
Her story is similar to that of many others in a city where water is not a guarantee. Cauvery water supply — as seen during the height of the drought last year — is erratic, and groundwater has been over-exploited to the point of borewells failing.
This has seen Bengaluru feature in a list of cities where water will run out, prepared by a global news website, that took political colours.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar squarely blamed the Congress government and claimed that the BJP had a comprehensive plan to recharge the groundwater table while Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George denied the claims saying that the city has enough for the next few years, with plans of diverting water from west-flowing rivers in the pipeline.
Drinking water units
The importance of water as an election issue can be seen in the spending of sitting MLAs on providing water within their constituencies. Almost every MLA, and prospective candidate, has spent a sizeable amount on drinking water units.
In Mahalakshmi Layout constituency, local MLA Gopalaiah K. claims to have built 40 drinking water units through his MLA LAD funds. “Over 200 borewells would go dry in the area. We have changed 32-km of pipelines and ensured water reaches at least 45,000 households. People will remember that,” he said. While canvassing in areas yet to get piped water, he promises to solve the problem after the elections.
In Byatarayanapura, over 80 units have been constructed through the MLA funds, allowing access to water. One of this, which just started functioning around a month ago, has come as a saviour to Siddu, a house-keeper in an apartment complex. Here, 20 litres is provided for ₹5. Those manning the unit say the borewell water — which is often supplied to pipes — has a total dissolved solid of 200 units.
“We don’t get water at home, and can collect it in drums whenever water is released in the community tap. But, even this is not enough during summers. Earlier, we would have to go 1-km in search of drinking water. This unit can provide clean water for our one-year-old child,” he said.
There is clear political benefits from these units. Three such units have been set up on a 1-kilometre stretch in Sanjayanagar — two by the local BJP MLA and one by the Congress. The latter had the picture of Congress candidate B. Suresh until the model code of conduct was enforced.
The Ashwathnagar unit is being maintained by BJP booth-level worker B.K. Ramesh Kumar, who believes that the 36 units set up by BJP MLA Y.A. Narayanaswamy over the past year will reap electoral benefits. “The opposition candidate can send water tankers, but we have provided a permanent solution. Over 100 people use each unit daily because of our MLA’s work,” he said.
