“Anybody with muscle power holds the key to all the water valves in the area,” the residents told BWSSB engineer-in-chief T Venkataraju, who visited the area following a police complaint against Munavar, a resident who illegally operated the valves.
“The so-called local leaders and goondas manipulate the valvemen and control the water supply,” said a resident.
Accepting their suggestion, Venkataraju said the Board would implement the rule shortly. “We are discussing the distribution of identity cards and uniforms to the valve operators,” he said.
Venkataraju and the assistant engineers conducted an inspection Thursday night in the Frazer Town sub-division. Illegal operation of valves had led to disparity in distribution of water in the area.
He said he found that some of the residents illegally drew water from BWSSB water lines. Water supply to their houses was stopped immediately.
A BWSSB official also inquired with the residents about Munavar who distributed water from a BWSSB tanker that was meant to be free of cost, for a price.
When contacted, Munavar told Deccan Herald that he was a JD(S) leader and social worker fighting for uninterrupted water supply in the area.
“The residents’ allegations against me are baseless. I have sometimes directed valvemen to supply water, but I myself didn’t keep the key,” he said.
He pleaded ignorance about the attack on Kabeer, a resident, allegedly by members of
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