22 Families Fined Rs 1.10 Lakh For ‘Misusing’ Water In Bengaluru

Admist Bengaluru’s most severe water crisis in decades, authorities have taken strict action against 22 families in the city for allegedly misusing drinking water for non-essential purposes such as car washing. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewarage Board (BWSSB) swiftly imposed fines worth Rs 1.10 lakh within three days.

Emphasizing the urgency of the situation, BWSSB chairperson Ram Prashant Manohar urged residents use water carefully. “The majority of complaints originate from the south-eastern part of the city. We are actively issuing warnings and appeals to the public, urging them to conserve water,” Manohar stated.

Notably, fines amounting to Rs 65,000 have been accounted solely to the south-western region of Bengaluru, underscoring the widespread nature of the issue.

Earlier this month, BWSSB enforced a ban on several water-intensive activities including vehicle washing, gardening, construction, and fountain operation.

“The temperatures are rising in the city every day, and the groundwater level has decreased due to lack of rain in recent days. As a result, it is necessary to prevent wastage of water in the city, and it has been made necessary for the public to use drinking water sparingly,” a BWSSB order read.

Highlighting the severity of the water scarcity, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah revealed that Bengaluru faces a daily deficit of 500 million litres of water against an actual requirement of 2,600 million litres per day (MLD). Additionally, he lamented that out of the city’s 14,000 borewells, nearly 6,900 have already run dry, exacerbating the crisis.

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