Amidst rising water tanker prices, BWSSB launches Sanchari Cauvery initiative

The much-awaited Sanchari Cauvery initiative, where the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will provide Cauvery water in tankers, was launched on Friday.

The much-awaited Sanchari Cauvery initiative, where the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) will provide Cauvery water in tankers, was launched on Friday.

Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who launched the Kaveri on Wheels app on Friday, said the it was brought to control the “water tanker mafia”.

“This water tanker mafia has drilled over 3,000 borewells and have been fleecing people up to ₹3,000 per load of water. We have started this initiative to curb this. Bengaluru is the first city in the country to provide BIS certified drinking water from a river in tankers,” he said.

BWSSB has roped in 250 water tankers and established 55 Cauvery Connect Centres, essentially large water tankers, mostly in the outer zones to run the initiative, said Ram Prasath Manohar, chairman, BWSSB. He also said the board has launched the dedicated app and a website for citizens to book water tankers. “Customers can book water tankers, make the payment, and track the tankers on the app. Water will be delivered within 24 hours,” he said.

Details of the tanker and the driver will also be shared, and a helpline will be available for grievance redressal, he added.

The cost of a 12,000-litre tanker load of water supplied by BWSSB will be ₹1,290, within a 2-km radius and ₹70 a km thereafter.

Residents of the outer zones still dependent on water tankers lament that it has been launched only as the summer is drawing to a close and the monsoon will set in less than three weeks. “This is a great initiative, the decision for which was taken when the crisis was at its peak. But by the time it has been implemented, the summer is almost drawing to a close,” said Jagadish Reddy of Varthur Rising.