JOIN USLack of proper rainfall in the City is a matter of concern for many Bangaloreans. According to an analysis by ‘Know Your Climate’, a climate-tracking initiative of the Bangalore-based NGO, Public Affairs Centre, this June, Bangalore recorded the fourth lowest rainfall for the month in 112 years.
It is not just the farmers who are affected by the delayed rainfall, there are others in the City who have their share of problems.
Since the water and electricity supplies are being affected, the IT companies too are facing problems.
According to Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), 50 per cent of the borewells in the City have dried and one has to adjust with the available water.
“We have 131 tankers as of now and if it doesn’t rain, as per the predictions of the meteorological department, there will be water shortage in some areas,” says T Venkataraju, engineer-in-chief, BWSSB. Although he maintains that the catchment areas in Cauvery water reservoirs are getting sufficient rainfall and the core city area won’t be much affected, areas like K R Puram, Yelahanka and Madhavpura will continue to face water problems.
About the provision of water for buildings coming up in the City, Venkataraju states that it is the duty of the board to provide water to the buildings, which have got clearance from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). “Around 30-35 NOCs have been given to high-rise buildings, including commercial ones this month and new domestic water connections have been given to around 1,000 separate houses,” he informs.
P Manivannan, the managing director of the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), says that there will be a certain reduction in supply of the electricity, which will be thinly and fairly spread, but Bangalore will not be affected much.
However, the delay in rainfall may lead to an increase in demand for electricity. “In such cases, we will request the government or Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission to purchase more power from the market,” says Manivannan.
He also informs that Peenya, Yelahanka and East Bangalore consume more electricity.
The total electricity consumption of Bangalore is 37 Mu, according to Manivannan. But BESCOM says it is confident of managing the situation. “We do not foresee any problem for Bangalore. We have managed a long summer without load-shedding, while other metros in South India had resorted to load-shedding,” says Manivannan.
However confident the BWSSB and BESCOM might be in handling the water and electricity problems, people from the IT sector say that the entire thing wil have an effect on their industry, directly and indirectly.
Harish Bijoor, CEO of Harish Bijoor Consultants Inc, is of the opinion that the delayed rains, water and electricity problems will affect the employees.
“Many people in Bangalore are employed in the IT sector. The tension of an IT worker will increase because of water and electricity problems as they will have to deal with these on a daily basis at home,” he observes.
He also says that there are possible chances of water bills going up in the IT companies. “Water is available at a price. And with less water supply, it is probable that water bills will increase, because apartment residents will have to make alternative arrangements,” he says.
Another IT professional, Santosh Kumar, says that the clients of these IT companies will think twice before investing if they know about the water and electricity problems.
“Water and electricity shortages will affect the IT companies, which house many employees. Clients will not be interested in investing in a company, which has water and electricity problems,” he says.