With summer approaching, the possibility of severe water scarcity in the city was a major topic of discussion at the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) council meeting on Thursday.
Cutting across party lines, several councillors demanded that a special meeting be convened with the officials of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to discuss and formulate an action plan to tide over the water shortage during summer.
The issue was raised first by Ruling Party Leader N. Nagaraj, who said with the storage at the KRS dam depleting, the drinking water scarcity was a certainty during the summer months. He said the situation has been compounded by lack of sufficient rainfall in the State last year.
Condition to worsen
“The demand for water is only going to increase over the next few months. We need to convene a meeting soon and formulate an action plan within the next 15 days,” he said.
Kuvempunagar councillor Yashodamma Krishnappa from the Congress complained that BWSSB officials were not cooperative when she approached them with the water problems in her ward.
She said the borewells that were sunk a few years ago had become defunct. Begur councillor M. Srinivas from Janata Dal (Secular) claimed he had spent nearly Rs. 4 lakh from his pocket towards meeting drinking water requirements of his ward.
He sought increased allocation from the BBMP in this regard.
Kushalnagar councillor Noor Jahan Sharief from the Congress and Padarayanapura councillor Nazni Begum (Independent) spoke about the water problems in their wards.
Commissioner Siddaiah said while there was a lot of demand to sink more borewells, the councillors must also acknowledge the rapidly sinking levels of the groundwater table.
“This is the main reason for many borewells becoming defunct,” he said.
‘Within 10 days’
He promised the councillors that he would get in touch with BWSSB officials and convene a special meeting in the next 10 days.
