Residents in some parts of Bengaluru have started feeling the pangs of water shortage even before summer has peaked. Despite assurances from the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) that there is enough water for the city, certain localities under the South East Division, which caters to five constituencies including Shanthinagar, C.V. Raman Nagar, parts of Mahadevapura and K.R. Puram, are experiencing shortage in water supply.
Residents of localities dependent on the Aero Engine ground level reservoir, such as C.V. Raman Nagar, New Thippasandra, Malleshpalya and other surrounding localities, said supply has been erratic or little for over a week.
According to local BWSSB officials, the problem cropped up because the water being pumped into the reservoir is low even though the overall water supply by BWSSB has remained constant at 1,400 MLD. This internal fluctuation of water supply, officials explained, arises if one of the other zones draws more water. The primary reason for drawing more water is increase in demand for water with the onset of summer.
“Several areas which receive water from this reservoir are facing a problem. We will have to draw water from an alternative source,” a local official said.
The sudden shortage has raised apprehensions among residents ahead of the peak summer season.
Saroja, a resident of Malleshpalya, said, “It’s been more than a week since water was supplied to us. We are growing anxious as in the last five years we have not faced an issue with water supply. Even last summer, we expected a problem, but fortunately we didn’t face any. We have a little water left over in our sump right now. We might have to start buying water from tanker suppliers.”
However, Executive Engineer of South East Division, BWSSB, Ramanand maintained that it was a temporary problem, which would be resolved soon. “We have taken permission to draw water from High Grounds. This will help get us another 8-10 ML,” he said.
Earlier, water was being pumped from High Grounds. But a few years ago, this was stopped as the pipes had developed leakages. This was now being restored, he added.
The requirement for the entire South East division is 4,400 ML per month, according to BWSSB officials.
