As water woes continue in India's IT hub Bengaluru, residents of affluent societies have begun protesting against the water shortage. A video of residents of Shapoorji Pallonji Parkwest in central Bengaluru's Jagajeevanram Nagar protesting and demanding clean water has gone viral on social media.
The residents gathered and chanted "we want water" and carried out a rally in a mark of protest against growing water problems in the city.
Watch the video below
Shapoorji Pallonji reacts
Following the protests, Shapoorji Pallonji said that to address the water shortage, the management has been providing water to its residents through tankers.
“It is unfortunate that Bengaluru is facing severe water issues with groundwater depletion and borewells drying, causing inconvenience to the citizens. As a responsible developer, even after handing over day-to-day activities to the society, we are trying our best to assist residents at our project and are working with the society office bearers to reduce the impact of the city’s water shortage," a spokesperson for Shapoorji Pallonji said. "We are ordering water via tankers to fulfil the shortfall of water requirements, but unfortunately, the tanker water suppliers are also facing the same problems and are unable to supply 100 per cent. Our water treatment facility at the project is operational and is providing usable, quality water to the residents.
The spokesperson further said, "With the advent of the monsoon, this shortage of water in the city is likely to get resolved and bring relief to the citizens of Bengaluru. In the interim, we urge the citizens to take cognisance of the situation and use water conservatively."
Water crisis in Bengaluru
The protests come as the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) recently announced a 10 per cent cut in supply to those facilities and societies that use water between 40 lakh and 2 crore litres per day.
The water situation in Karnataka is getting worse with over 3,000 borewells drying up, triggering people to depend on RO water plants because of the scarcity.
Furthermore, the Bharatiya Janata Party has blamed the Congress government for sending Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, which they say is making the water problem worse. However , Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has denied the allegation, saying there is not enough water to be sending elsewhere.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the BJP is just using the water problem for politics. He also noted that Bengaluru is not running out of water and that their main job is to give Tamil Nadu the water it is supposed to get according to the law.
