The Hindu 24.05.2013
Pumping restored, but most areas in Bangalore yet to get usual supply
All pumps are switched on, but pressure is still low: BWSSB
Although Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board
(BWSSB) officials claimed that normal pumping of water from
Thorekadanahalli, Harohalli and Tataguni reservoirs had resumed,
residents of most areas are yet to get regular supply.
Residents
in east Bangalore, especially Pillanna Garden, HRBR Layout, Banaswadi,
Hennur and surrounding areas, where water scarcity is a perennial
problem, said they had not received water for the last five supply days.
The supply here is mostly once in four days and that too for not more
than two hours. Besides, the pressure is also very low, said a resident.
No water
Supply
was hit in the last two days in areas such as Padmanabhanagar and
Banashankari that were getting their regular quota even during the
crisis.
“During the crisis we [willingly] gave water
from our underground sump to whoever came to us from the neighbouring
slums. But in the last two days we have not got any water,” said M.
Madhu from Padmanabhanagar.
Bangalore Water Supply
and Sewerage Board, which had stopped 15 of the total 60 motors after
the level in Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) plummeted, resumed pumping from all
motors on Tuesday. “In the last few days we were drawing only 835
million litres of water per day (mld) although the requirement was 1,150
mld because we did not have the required 600 cusecs at the Shiva
Balancing Reservoir (SBR).
Following the release of
water from KRS and Hemavathi river and the gradual increase in the water
level, we have resumed pumping 1,150 mld from Tuesday,” a top BWSSB
official said.
Another day
It would take another day’s supply for the problem to be mitigated across the city.
“The
pressure is low because water is being supplied to several areas
simultaneously. Besides, we have reduced the duration of supply to
ensure that all such areas scheduled to get water on Thursday are
covered,” the official added.
