Water Crisis in Bengaluru: Heavy Fine for Wasting Drinking Water

Summer has already arrived, with temperatures soaring even in February. Water scarcity issues have also begun to surface. Last summer, Bengaluru faced a severe water shortage, and its residents, particularly in the Silicon City, suffered immensely due to a lack of drinking water. In light of this, the Karnataka government has issued a crucial warning to the public, emphasizing that hefty fines will be imposed for wasting drinking water.

The City Water Board announced that fines of up to Rs 5,000 will be imposed for using drinking water for non-essential purposes such as car washing, gardening, and other activities. It stated that using drinking water for vehicle washing, gardening, construction, fountains, entertainment purposes, cinema halls, malls, road construction, or cleaning is prohibited.

Those who violate these rules will face fines under Section 109 of the Water Board Act. A fine of Rs 5,000 will be imposed for the first violation, and if the violation repeats, an additional Rs 5,000 fine will be charged.

On Monday, Bengaluru recorded a maximum temperature of 32°C. The City Water Board indicated that the rising temperatures, coupled with recent lack of rainfall, have caused groundwater levels to dry up. It warned of a severe water shortage in the coming days and urged the public to use water sparingly.

Last summer, Bengaluru faced a severe water crisis, with half of the 14,000 borewells in the city drying up. As a result, the city faced a daily shortfall of 300 to 500 million liters of water. Exploiting the situation, private water tankers took advantage and charged exorbitant rates for tank water.