 "People stand in a queue with water cans to collect drinking water amid the ongoing water crisis in Bengaluru. AFP.")
Bengaluru is dry. Without water, people of the IT hub have been persistently requesting the state government to announce work-from-home, so that they can go to their natives, and the Congress-led regime in Karnataka appears to be apathetic, caring little about the plight of Bengalurians as it claims “there is no water crisis” in the city.
“As far as Bengaluru goes, there is no water crisis. Around 7,000 borewells have dried up. We have made arrangements for all that. We have taken over tankers. We have identified the water sources. We will see that water is supplied,” Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said.
‘Water being supplied everywhere’
Shivakumar also reacted to BJP’s charge that Congress leader Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka was clandestinely releasing Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu amid the severe water shortage in the State.
“As far as Cauvery is concerned, water is being supplied everywhere. BJP is trying to tell that we are giving water to Tamil Nadu. It is totally false. At no point in time, we can supply water to Tamil Nadu now. There is no water to be released,” Shivakumar alleged.
The Karnataka Congress president further said he has “walked and done Padayatra for water. That was to see that Mekedatu is done.”
He even “appealed” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP ministers to permit Mekedatu.
The Mekedatu multi-purpose project involves building a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka. The estimated Rs 9,000-crore project, once completed, is expected to ensure drinking water to Bengaluru and neighbouring areas, and it can also generate 400 MW of power.
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More ShortsMonkeys enter homes in search of water
Not just humans, the water crisis in Bengaluru is also badly affecting animals. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said it has been flooded with complaints from residents about monkeys entering their homes in search of water and food.
Approaching summer and water scarcity are the key reasons why parched monkeys are entering homes and high-rise apartments of people in the Karnataka capital.
Bengaluru hotels face backlash for rain dance, pool parties
Amid the water crisis, several hotels in Bengaluru have offered to host rain dances and pool parties on Holi which will be celebrated on March 25.
This decision has angered residents who say such events will worsen the water crisis in Bengaluru.
As per reports, Bengaluru Whitefield’s “biggest” Holi festival, hosted by Aloft Hotel, is advertising “free unlimited colours and rain dance” as its main attraction. It is selling tickets starting from Rs 49 for kids and going up to Rs 2,600 for a group of eight people. The dates of the party are 23, 24 and 25 March.
Similar rain dances, and pool parties at other venues are being advertised in most parts of Bengaluru.
Another in Whitefield, Radha Hometel is hosting a pre-Holi party with “free colours and rain dance set up” scheduled for 24 and 25 March. Jayamahal Palace Hotel has two Holi parties.
In Yeshwantpur, Hotel Leroy Grand is offering the “Biggest pool rooftop open air holi party” from 22 to 26 March. Also, the Park Bangalore, Skydeck by Sherlock, Hotel Royal Orchid, Sidewalk bar and kitchen are promoting rain dances as part of their Holi celebrations, reports The News Minute.
Will water crisis affect IPL matches in Bengaluru?
Water crisis may not pose an immediate threat to hosting Indian Premier League (IPL) matches at Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) said.
Talking to the media, KSCA CEO Shubendu Ghosh said the host association is meeting the water demand for ground maintenance through the stadium’s in-house sewage treatment plant (STP).
“We are not having any crisis at the moment. We are following state government guidelines on water usage. We will hold meetings with the stakeholders to plan how to proceed,” he said.
According to Ghosh, the stadium will require about 10,000-15,000 litres of water for a match and will be generated from the STP plant.
Chinnaswamy Stadium will host three matches on 25, 29 March and April 2.
With inputs from agencies
Umang Sharma is a media professional with over 12 years of experience. Crafting compelling content and using storytelling techniques are his strengths. His interest lies in national, global, political news and events.