CMC has no time to solve drinking water crisis

Cold war between president and commissioner of the civic body has worsened the problem

While the well-to-do are getting borewells drilled, those who cannot afford to do so wait endlessly for the CMC to supply the water. It is being supplied to the urban areas from borewells in the villages.

If these sources dry up, it could spell trouble for the city dwellers too. Water shortage has always been a round-the-year problem for the district. With tanks going dry and borewells not fetching enough water, it is difficult days ahead for the people.

They are forced to wait for the water supplied through tankers since morning itself. Sometimes, when the tankers are exhausted, they are forced to wait till the next day.
Many of the borewells sunk in the Kolaramma tank bed area have gone dry and the situation is no different in the Ammerahalli tank bed area. Many a time, it has resulted in the city not getting its water needs fulfilled.

The politics in the CMC has only aggravated the problems. The date for holding a special meeting of the CMC to discuss the drinking water problem and the action plans framed under the SFC open scheme has not been decided yet.

The differences of opinion between CMC commissioner R Shalini, appointed at the behest of Minister Varthur Prakash, and CMC president Naziya, known to be close to
Union Minister K H Muniyappa, has hampered implementation of development works.

The commissioner says the president has not responded to the proposal to call the special meeting. But, the president says the commissioner has not been providing the necessary details. People now want the deputy commissioner to intervene and solve the row.

Residents’ take
Shivappa, a resident of Kurubarapet, alleges that CMC tankers provide water only to the houses of the influential and that they are forced to buy water from private tanker owners. Narayanaswamy of Khadri pura has the same tale to tell.

While Sheshadri of P C Layout feels the CMC has lost right to collect water cess, Vishwanath of Palasandra Layout says they are sometimes compelled to buy mineral water at exorbitant rates.