In an unprecedented move, the Kolar district administration has invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against water tanker owners by filing criminal complaint for disruption of water supply to Kolar town.
For over a week, residents have been distressed over the meagre quantity of water being supplied to them after the tanker owners resorted to an indefinite strike.
The authorities resorted to the stringent measure of invoking ESMA against private tanker owners following agitation by the latter demanding settlement of bills, which have been pending for 13 months. The Kolar City Muncipal Council and tanker owners have been at loggerheads for more than a month over non-payment of dues.
Private water tankers play an important role in supply to about 1.35 lakh residents across 35 wards as the CMC has hired 111 of them by issuing work order to supply five loads of water daily to residential areas, government offices, hostels, and other establishments.
CMC Commissioner S.A. Ramprakash filed a complaint at the Gulpet police following which the police filed an FIR against 90 tanker owners for causing inconvenience to residents by hindering water supply. The district administration has also blacklisted those taking part in the strike.
However, tanker owners allege that the CMC owes them ₹6.3 crore accumulated over the 13 months, which in turn has resulted in non-payment to tubewell owners and drivers. This is besides the dues to banks taken to buy tankers.
Justifying invoking of ESMA, Deputy Commissioner K.V. Thrilokchandra said: “Though they are private operators, the local body had hired them for public utility. Since they have become a hindrance to public service, the provisions of the law was applied.” Further, he said that action had also been initiated against the CMC Commissioner for failing to submit bills every month. “It has been a practice on the part of the CMC to submit accrued bills causing disturbance in releasing funds,” he said, adding that dues for six months had been released. “For the remaining seven months, we are yet to receive bills from the CMC,” Mr. Thrilokchandra said.
Sources said that it has been an uphill task to maintain water supply to residential areas using tankers that have not been blacklisted. “These tankers are grossly inadequate to meet the water needs of 1.5 lakh people.”
As water supply has been severely affected, residents are facing shortage. Those who can afford are turning to private water tankers. “We are purchasing water by paying ₹500 per tanker. Private tankers have raised the charges exorbitantly following rift between tanker owners and administration,”said Kalavathi, homemaker from Palasandra Layout.
Supply of piped water
To contain the tanker mafia, it has been proposed to supply water through pipelines.
According to Deputy Commissioner K.V. Thrilokchandra, the process for equitable distribution of water has begun. “Pipelines have been laid in six wards so far,” he said. Mr. Thrilokchandra has also taken the City Muncipal Council to task for its failure to utilise tubewells under its jurisdiction by reviving and rejuvenating them.
