Bengaluru: Clean drinking water a luxury here

Bengaluru: With the mercury soaring in Bengaluru, people are forced to drink more water, but for the residents of Gopalapuram, pure drinking water is a distant dream. As they have to make do with water of dubious quality, they often fall prey to water-borne diseases. The recently set up reverse osmosis (RO) drinking water unit in the area isn't functioning for the past one month.

Residents complain the drinking water unit was set up as the quality of water supplied in the area was not satisfactory. They also alleged that those who directly drank the BWSSB Cauvery water without heating it or purifying were falling sick and even fell prey to diarrhoea.

Forty-five-year old Siddappa said, "The RO plant came as a relief and we regularly used to buy 20 liters of water by paying Rs 5. But from the past one month the plant isn't functioning. We do not know whom to complain and have gone back to the old technique of boiling the water before consumption to avoid diseases."

Mr Ifthekar, who owns a mechanic shed on 2nd cross, complained that "Water is supplied only three days in a week. During this harsh summer, this RO plant would have come as a big relief to the residents. But for the reasons best known to the officials, the plant is accumulated with dust."

M.S. Venkatesh, a businessman, said, "Water is one of the basic needs of any human being or animal. With much fanfare the public representatives opened the RO plant. But it has closed down."

He said that public representatives who had introduced this plant should have also ensured that it was serving its purpose. Apart from the non-functioning RO plant, the residents also complained of poor quality of roads and blocked drains. They demanded that those in power inspect the area to know the reality by themselves.

‘Will inspect plant and take remedial measures’
Q and A with Praveen, Assistant Engineer, BBMP West Zone

Residents of Gopalapuram complain that the RO plant which was inaugurated few months ago isn't working? Are you aware of this?
The RO plant was inaugurated by Gandhinagar MLA Dinesh Gundurao and Binny Pet ward corporator Mahadevamma Nagaraj. It was functioning well ever since inauguration. I haven't received any complaint regarding the non-functioning of the plant

Who should be held responsible for the non-functioning of the RO plant, which has caused lot of inconvenience to the local residents?
The plant was set up on Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. According to the agreement with BBMP, the private firm should run the RO plant for a span of five years. After five years, the plant will be handed over to BBMP by the firm.

Now that you got to know about the troubles faced by residents due to the non-functioning of RO plant, what is your next course of action?
I do not know why the RO plant, which was functioning well, has become non-functional. I shall inspect on Monday and figure out what's wrong and take immediate remedial measures.