Water crisis in Whitefield: Residents lament inaction by civic authority

Sowmya Raju | NT Bengaluru Although being p o r t r a y e d a s p o s h a n d luxurious, the residents of ward number 110 in Whitefield are facing several issues such as absence of water supply, f re q u e n t p owe r c u t s, garbage accumulation, poor road conditions and so on. Whitefield is known as one of the poshest places i n B e n g a l u r u w i t h a number of IT companies, educational institutions, and hospitals. It is also a popular residential area and is known for its vibrant lifestyle and nightlife. S a n d e e p A n i r u d h a n an activist who handles a Twitter page Namma Whitefield conducted a poll among the residents of Ward 110 regarding the water supply in the area. Despite living in classy apartments, 70 per cent of the residents who participated in the poll stated that they have no water supply or irregular water supply. W h e n N e w s T r a i l contacted the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) officials regarding the water supply, Miraza Anwar, the executive engineer said, “It is summer and there is already a deficit of water. Even then the water supply is regular to Ward 110. The water supply might be a little late since it is located on the outskirts of the city. I would not say that we are unsuccessful, we are just slightly delayed when it comes to supplying water to this ward.” W h i l e t h e B W S S B officials said that the issues are being resolved in a few hours, the residents of the ward have complained that they have had no supply of Cauvery in the past two months. George, a 72-year-old resident of Whitefield said that he has faced issues with the water supply on and off for over a year and the water supply is erratic even during monsoon. The retired businessman said illegal construction of borewells has affected the groundwater level. He emphasised, “We have complained to the respective officials a hundred times, we just get some reasons and no action. We need good governance and officials who can hear our issues and take action.” E r s h a s A h m e d , a concerned father of two kids, expressed his distress over the prolonged absence of Cauvery water supply to their area. The quality of the tanker water provided is dreadful, as it contains high levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), leading to skin rashes and other issues among the children. Ahmed also highlighted the mounting issue of garbage accumulation in the neighbourhood. He emphasised the importance o f r e g u l a r g a r b a g e collection, pointing out the unfortunate reality that piles of waste are left unattended on the streets. Even the sweepers responsible for cleaning the roads tend to accumulate the garbage in one corner, which easily scatters when heavy vehicles pass by. As a software engineer who relocated to Whitefield for a posh and luxurious lifestyle, Ahmed has been confronted with consistent problems regarding water supply, unattended garbage on the roads, and frequent power outages. Sean Lawrence, a senior architect at a private firm, raises a question about the difficulties faced by his multig enerational household due to the scarcity of water. Despite being law-abiding citizens who pay their taxes, they have been deprived of the Cauvery water supply for over two months. Lawrence also highlights the plight of his neighbour, who has been without a water supply for one and a half years, forcing them to tirelessly seek a resolution to this issue. He shares the fact that he is unable to provide water for his plants and trees when his own family struggles to meet their basic water needs. Consequently, he is left with no choice but to let the plants die. T h e s e d i s t r e s s i n g circumstances highlight the urgent need for intervention to ensure that tax-paying citizens such as Sean Lawrence and his neighbour receive their rightful share of the water supply. It is essential to address these challenges promptly and devise sustainable solutions that cater to the needs of the community wh i l e p re s e r v i n g t h e environment.