Water business booms in parched areas; borewells run dry
Chikkasandra is a bit of an oasis in the water-starved T Dasarahalli and some of the residents here are making a killing out of the demand for water in the area.
A cluster of houses in the locality has borewells and many overhead tanks. A tanker is filled for Rs 80 and sold in other parts of the area for Rs 250.
“Only borewells in this area yield some water. So, we fill water from here and then deliver it to places in Dasarahalli where there is scarcity,” Eranna, a water tanker operator, said.
In KR Puram, the demand is going up, even as the supply is going down, according to tanker tractor driver Maruti. “The borewells in the area have all dried up. We used to supply 50-60 tanker-loads a day, now it has come down to five,” he says.
The shortage has led to a hike in the price also. Maruti said the cost per load has gone up to Rs 200 from Rs 80, a month ago. “We used to sell a tanker load for Rs 300, now we sell it at for Rs 450 to Rs 500,” he added.
According to Jahnavi, who runs a tailoring shop in Mahedevapura’s Pai Layout, not only has the price of water gone up, the waiting period has also grown longer. “It used to cost us Rs 400 per tanker of water before. Now, it has gone up to Rs 700 and even if we are willing to pay, the waiting period is almost a week now,” she says. Jahnavi says that only those who know private suppliers well get regular supply.
At 9th Cross Bagalgunte, Ramesh, a resident, says that since there is no supply of water from the Palike for days together they have no option but to buy water.
“They charge us Rs 250 for a 3,000-litre load and Rs 450 for 6,000-litre load but even that is not good for drinking.” He says he gets his drinking water in cans from a local supplier.
Kumar, a water dealer, is making a roaring business in T Dasarahalli. He said he sells 500 cans a day against earlier 350 cans. He said his customers can pick up a water can for Rs 10 at his unit, but the price doubles for home delivery.