Hoteliers mulling use of disposable materials as water crisis deepens in Bengaluru

According to him, 90 percent of the water goes for washing utensils, which eventually goes down the drain.

“Now we are seriously exploring ‘use and throw’ material as an option,” Hebbar said.

The hotelier said it would be a costly affair but the expenditure on the disposable materials would be passed on to the customers.

“We are feeling the heat of the water scarcity in Bengaluru. We are praying for good rain around Ugadi,” the KSHA president said.

Also Read: Karnataka to slap fine on residents unnecessarily using potable water

Capping of water tanker prices

Meanwhile, the civic agency in Bengaluru has appointed nodal officers for each ward in the city to address the water woes after capping the water prices between ₹600 and ₹1,000 per tanker.

Many Residents’ Welfare Associations have complained that the capping of water prices per tanker did not help them as the water suppliers are still charging exorbitantly. People in need of water are afraid of antagonising the water suppliers and are forced to pay whatever is charged, he said.

The BJP hit out at the ruling Congress for failing to provide drinking water.

“In the midst of the outcry of ‘no water’, we are getting to know that there is uninterrupted supply of beer. Water cannot fetch revenue but beer can. The government is concentrating on revenue. We must admire the government,” Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R Ashoka told reporters.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar slammed the Opposition saying that it does not 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 history of the State, we have taken on the water mafia,” he told reporters.

Shivakumar appealed to the people to use water judiciously and understand the value of water.

When asked why the government is not able to get water while private water tankers are managing large supplies, he said, “Private water tankers supply water from private borewells while government supplies from drinking water units.

Also Read: ‘City of lakes’ needs more than quick-fix solutions to address water scarcity

Fight for Mekedatu project

The Deputy Chief Minister said water scarcity was the reason behind the state government pushing for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project across the Cauvery river in Kanakapura in Ramanagara district.

The Karnataka government wants the Mekedatu project to utilise its share of Cauvery water.

However, the neighbouring Tamil Nadu government, which often locks horns with Karnataka over Cauvery water sharing, has opposed the Mekedatu project.