Piped water is still a far cry in Kolar area
BHOPAL: The poor state of civic infrastructure in Kolar may not be high on political discourse in this election season, but residents are feeling the heat from water scarcity and power outages.
The area has a population of about 3 lakh. Unplanned development in Kolar has meant that much of the area does not have piped water connection.
Consequently, the area's residents are heavily dependent on borewells.
“Tubewells have started to run dry in Kolar. Most colonies depend on water supply from private water tankers. Water and electricity and better civic infrastructure are issues in elections,” said Sanjana Sharma, a Kolar resident. However, during political rallies held in the area, the parties have failed to mention anything about the water crisis there, she added.
On the main road lies the Bhim Kunj Parisar. Getting water through private tankers is normal for the residents. The entrance gate of the colony has a dedicated shaft through which a private water tanker with a capacity of 12,000 litres fulfils the colony's needs. “We run through four colonies in the area. For each colony, we make about four trips daily,” said Sanjay, a tanker driver. The base charge per trip is Rs 1,200.
“Tubewells have started to run dry in Kolar. Most colonies depend on water supply from private water tankers. Water and electricity and better civic infrastructure are issues in elections,” said Sanjana Sharma, a Kolar resident. However, during political rallies held in the area, the parties have failed to mention anything about the water crisis there, she added.
On the main road lies the Bhim Kunj Parisar. Getting water through private tankers is normal for the residents. The entrance gate of the colony has a dedicated shaft through which a private water tanker with a capacity of 12,000 litres fulfils the colony's needs. “We run through four colonies in the area. For each colony, we make about four trips daily,” said Sanjay, a tanker driver. The base charge per trip is Rs 1,200.
Behind the colony is an overhead water tank. “I have seen this tank for 15 years. Water supply from the overhead tank was never possible as it never passed BMC's technical and stability test,” said Kailash, a local resident. It is perhaps symbolic of the kind of development that has taken place in Kolar, he added.
At a distance towards Danish Hills is some hope. A blue coloured overhead water tank brings piped water supply to much of the area. “Water supply is not our issue. Power outage is a very common occurrence every summer season,” said Sachin Rewal , a resident of Banjara Akbarpur.
Away from the main road -- about 3 km in the opposite direction at Bawarya Kalan -- is one of the most expensive real estates in the state capital. After crossing the bridge on the left is a private depot at which more than a dozen water tankers continuously roam the streets supplying water to the colonies.
“We charge about Rs 300 for ground floor and an additional Rs 50 per floor for water supply,” said a private water supplier.
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