Now, BMTF to tackle water thefts

Police inaction compels BWSSB to explore an alternative

The move comes in the wake of police inaction on complaints regarding unauthorised water connections, unlawful drawing of Cauvery water, using pumpsets to draw water from distribution/service pipelines, illegal sanitary connections, etc.

According to the police, water theft is not a serious offence and such issues could be handled with a simple warning. However, the BWSSB has not been able to take on the water mafia in several parts of the City.

Take the case of Pulakeshinagar constituency, which is dogged by water problems, leaving a large part of the population without water supply.  

According to the BWSSB, the area has over 4,600-odd illegal water connections which are again being “handled” by local goons. The residents do not get water despite having water connections and hence, are dependent on water tankers.

Even supply through water tankers has turned into a business. The person who orders for a tanker makes a killing by selling water in pots, said a BWSSB official. “A water mafia is operating in my area. We have been voicing our problems to the engineers concerned and the BWSSB chairman.  

The police here do not consider our complaints related to water theft or the valvemen mafia. They direct us to approach the BWSSB engineers to lodge all our complaints about water problems,” said Dharma Gowda, a resident of DJ Halli.

Cognisable offence

Since water theft is a cognisable offence, complaints can be registered without any direction from the magistrate court, said Mallikarjuna Swamy, Superintendent of Police, BMTF. 

“All complaints will be dealt with, according to the BWSSB Act. We still need to acquaint ourselves with the BWSSB Act,” he added.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force was created with the objective of detection, investigation of offences and prosecution of persons indulging in unauthorised occupation of lands/property belonging to Government and Government organisations in Bangalore Metropolitan Area, through a Government Order dated March 19, 1996.