Once 'beaten' twice shy, BWSSB readies for summer

Last year, an inspector was assaulted for not supplying water

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) seems to have learnt its lessons from the bitter experiences last summer.

It has appointed special officers, mainly assistant executive engineers and assistant engineers, in each division to streamline the water distribution system. 

The officers will visit the designated sub-divisions at 7 am daily to ensure that water is supplied without any hassles to  consumers.  

A BWSSB water inspector was beaten up severely for not supplying water for many days last year. There were incidents of water being diverted from the main lines; water supplied through BWSSB tankers were sold by touts and there were innumerable complaints of borewells not working in the newly added BBMP areas. 

“This year, the Board is making all efforts to ensure that water is distributed evenly. The special officers will visit the spot, interact with consumers and register all complaints. The officers will also check unauthorised connections in their respective areas,” said a BWSSB official. 

The Board, which recently started a drive against unauthorised connections, has regularised over 300 connections by collecting penalty from consumers. The special officers have been asked to keep tabs on such connections.

BWSSB is also in the process of purchasing new tankers to supply water to those areas where consumers are yet to receive water through pipelines. 

The Board had approached BBMP and a proposal was made to buy 30 tankers of Rs 20 lakh each. 

However, the Palike is yet to allot funds for the purpose. With Bharat Standard IV vehicles hitting the Bangalore market, the Board is purchasing 30 jetting machines mainly for the newly added BBMP areas. The official said tenders for water tankers would be called shortly.  

The City will face another parched summer this year as the much expected Cauvery IV Stage II project has been delayed and is expected to be completed only by June 2012. With the growing demand for water in the City, only judicious use and conservation of water will help in the coming days.