Air show dries up Yelahanka's taps further

Air show dries up Yelahanka's taps further

Diversion of drinking water to the air show venue has hit water supply in New Town, reports Senthalir S

Senthalir S

The metal birds soaring into the skies at the ongoing Aero India 2009 might be spelling magic for thousands of visitors. But the air show has virtually left the not-too-distant Yelahanka New Town high and dry. Water woes of Yelahanka New Town have peaked, with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) diverting a massive amount of drinking water to the air show.
"I did not get water for four days. Then suddenly there was water supply for two days on Thursday and Friday. There has been no supply again on Saturday," said a Yelahanka resident speaking on condition of anonymity.
Officials in the BWSSB confirmed that of the 14 million litres per day (MLD) supplied to the area, over 1.2 MLD water is being diverted to the air show venue. However, a BWSSB official, speaking to Sunday DNA, contended that the diversion of water to the air show had nothing to do with the water shortage in New Town. "The supply is not regular, mainly because of shortage of water. We will supply water to these areas from today. There will not be any problem," he said.
Residents of the New Town have been facing a severe water shortage for two years now. "At least earlier we used to get water once in two days. But now, it has worsened. When contacted, BWSSB officials give us different reasons including the supply diversion for the air show," said another resident.
Vaidyanathan, executive committee member of the Yelahanka New Town Citizens' Forum, said: "There is inadequate water supply to many areas here. There are at least 10,000-12,000 houses in the locality. Yelahanka is at the tail-end of the city and the water supplied is less. It gets diverted to other places."
He said the residents have sent several complaints to the water board chairman, but nothing has been done.