With water scarcity continuing to haunt people in the city, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has introduced several measures to curb unauthorised water tapping. Though the BWSSB had constituted 'special disconnection drive' squads in January to check the illegal connection of water and sanitary services, many residents from across the city felt that unauthorised water supply was being provided to the corporators, MLAs and the local leaders.

Speaking about the illegal water connection, Tejaswini (name changed) from Yelachenahalli, a newly added ward to BBMP said, "Though the nine squads consisting of six to eight members are constituted, we know that unauthorised Cauvery water is being supplied to the residence of corporators and local leaders. They are neither questioned nor is the unauthorised connection disconnected."

In another instance, a resident of J P Nagar, 2nd phase, said, "There are no limits for the usage of water in this locality. Some of the residents here remove the metre when the Cauvery water is supplied and the metre reading personnel fail to notice this. I do not know if BWSSB will be successful in identifying such problems and pass on the information to the squads."

Speaking about curbing the unauthorised water supply in the city, BWSSB spokesperson Sarala Kumari told City Express, "Currently, squads have completed over three rounds of inspections in different parts of the city. They have disconnected over 4,062 unauthorised water connections and we have issued notice to 507 residents and commercial complexes. We have recovered Rs 1,169,157 from the unpaid water bills and the dues."

The BWSSB had also promised that the squad members will be provided with police assistance in sensitive areas. When asked about the same, Sarala said, "We have not provided any police assistance until now as the squads have not come across any untoward incidents. If required, we will take help from the police department."

Hopefully the BBMP corporators and officials of BWSSB will take actions before the situation is too grave, considering the changing climatic conditions in the city each year.