WATER WAR

WATER WAR
BWSSB’s Class IV employees, who are merely doing their duty, have become targets of mobs incensed by increasing water shortages across the city. The civic agency responds with a meek appeal to the public
MANASI PARESH KUMAR


Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) employees are in troubled waters. The civic agency, which takes care of water supply in the city, has sent out a fervent appeal to its consumers, asking them not to beat up its employees.
BWSSB’s street-level staff, especially those who release water to each area, have been at the receiving end of public odium due to water shortages across the city. Though the city’s population and area has increased manifold in the last decade, the quantum of water the city gets has remained unchanged since 2002. At present, water demand is 1,100 million litres per day (MLD) while the availability is just 870 MLD. The shortfall has forced BWSSB to resort to rationing, thereby increasing the anger of residents as the summer swelters on.
In the last three months, there have been seven attacks on watermen. What worsens the problem for BWSSB is that the victims are not ready to give a written complaint. SCARED TO COMPLAIN
“Innocent valve men are getting thrashed for no fault of theirs. How can this lowest paid employee decide if you get water or not. If you have a problem, go to the authorities. A man who tightens a screw is not the one responsible,” said Rudre Gowda, president of the BWSSB workers union. “This is the first time in the city that watermen are being beaten up. This trend is dangerous for the smooth working of the organisation. Workers can’t work under intimidation,” said one employee who didn’t want to disclose his name.
Recently, two valve men and a BWSSB inspector were beaten up at Machalibetta in Frazer Town due to water scarcity. The BWSSB even filed a complaint against the accused. But most of the incidents go unreported. The victims don’t come forward to lodge a formal complaint because of the political and rowdy elements involved in the incidents. “There are definite areas where these problems occur, especially slums. There are local leaders who wish to get mileage out of it. If the valve man does lodge a complaint, you can guess what he will have to face when he goes back there for his duty,” said Rudre Gowda.
BWSSB APPEAL
On their part, the employees are furious with BWSSB officials because no concrete steps are being taken to protect them. “Instead of warning the culprits of stern action, the board has instead sent an appeal to people requesting them to stop this violence. How effective do you think it will be?” asked Sidde Gowda, another member of the union.
BWSSB officials, however, deny charges that they are going easy on the assaults. “We have sent out an appeal because we wish to remain consumer friendly. However, if the situation persists, we will take action against the accused,” said Chief Engineer, Maintenance, Venkata Raju. But the officials’ hands are tied. “Those who are assaulted do not give a written complaint and without that we can do nothing officially. They have their reasons, but it is a catch-22 situation for us, “ added Raju.
Realising the enormity of the situation, which has cropped up ahead of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls, the state government is trying to address it by sinking borewells in areas where water is a major problem.