The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Bengaluru): In a recent development from Bengaluru, Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar expressed openness to constructive suggestions from opposition parties concerning the city’s escalating water crisis. During a press briefing at his Sadashivanagar home, Shivakumar criticized the opposition’s approach, which he perceived as predominantly critical, stating, “The Opposition parties don’t seem to know anything other than criticism. If they give any constructive suggestions, we are certainly open to considering them. For the first time in the state’s history, we have taken decisive action against the water mafia by assuming control of private water tankers.”
Highlighting the severity of the situation, Shivakumar noted that approximately half of the city’s borewells have ceased to yield water. The government has decided to commandeer thousands of private water tankers to facilitate water supply from sources outside the city, with the pricing determined by officials based on various factors, including the distance covered. In an innovative move, unused milk tankers will be repurposed for water transportation.
The Deputy CM underscored the government’s efforts to mitigate the crisis, emphasizing the importance of responsible water usage among the public and discouraging wasteful practices such as car washing. He also mentioned the proposed Mekedatu project as a long-term solution.
Responding to inquiries regarding the effectiveness of government water supply compared to private tankers, Shivakumar clarified that private entities utilize water from their borewells, whereas the government relies on drinking water units. The specific appointment of a nodal officer for the Bengaluru Rural constituency was justified by its reliance on borewell water.
Furthermore, Shivakumar touched upon political dynamics, lamenting the current state of affairs and the lack of ideological consistency among parties, especially in light of recent developments involving key political figures.
