Bengaluru Alert: Rs 5,000 Fine On Using Drinking Water For Non-Essential Activities; Penalty Could Rise, If...

Bengaluru: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has announced measures to save drinking water by imposing Rs 5,000 on those who use potable water for non-essential activities. The fine could go even higher if the citizen commits the same violation again.

As per the BWSSB statement, under Sections 33 and 34 of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Act 1964, in case of violation of a prohibitory order, a fine of Rs 5,000 will be applicable for the first-time offence.

If the same violation recurred from the same citizen then the penalty will be Rs 5,000 with an additional fee of Rs 500 per day.

This development is announced in the wake of rising temperatures and decreasing groundwater levels in the metro city.

BWSSB has urged citizens to utilize water judiciously and also directed them to inform the authorities if they find anyone violating the order. The citizens could call in 1916 to file complaints.

This move is essential ahead of the summer season. Earlier this week, IMD predicted that summer in Bengaluru will be hotter than Delhi, and will set in the first week of March. On February 17, Bengaluru witnessed its hottest temperature of 35.9 degrees Celsius, which was far higher than Delhi whose temperature was at 27 degrees Celsius. IMD has signalled that the ongoing La Niña phenomenon is likely the reason behind Bengaluru's hot weather.

Apart from this, BWSSB also tightened bolts around the high pricing of water tankers. Simplifying the pricing levels, the regulator brings transparency by unveiling fixed rates for water tankers. Now, tankers will have a price band of Rs 750 to Rs 1200 for transporting about 6000 to 12,000 litres of water over 5 to 10 kilometres of distances.