Bengaluru water management body bans use of drinking water for swimming pools; sets ₹5,000 fine

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board banned the use of drinking water in swimming pools, setting a fine of ₹5,000 for violations on the same.

Published on: Mar 13, 2024, 10:00:08 IST

By Yamini C S

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The ongoing Bengaluru water crisis took a fresh turn on Wednesday, with the city's water management body imposing fresh restrictions on the usage of drinking water for swimming pools.

Bengaluru is reeling under a severe water shortage even before the full onset of summer. (Representative image)

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) on Wednesday banned the use of drinking water in swimming pools, and also decided to set a fine of ₹5,000 for violations on the same, news agency ANI reported.

ALSO READ | Bengaluru water crisis: Karnataka bans use of drinking water to wash cars, maintain gardens; sets ₹5,000 fine

The move comes after the broader Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board (KWSSB) on Friday prohibited the use of drinking water for various purposes, including washing of cars, gardening, construction and maintenance.

The restrictions come in the midst of a severe water shortage in the state even before the full onset of summer. More than 3,000 borewells across Bengaluru have also dried up, as low rainfall in the past monsoon season has given way to a huge deficiency.

ALSO READ | Won't release water to TN without retaining for our consumption: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

Karnataka-Tamil Nadu Cauvery river row gains momentum

Meanwhile, the southern state of Karnataka is also butting heads with neighbouring Tamil Nadu on the release of Cauvery river water. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday denied charges from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that authorities are releasing Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu even as the state capital is reeling under the acute crisis for water.

ALSO READ | Bengaluru reeling but ranks high in used water management

He dismissed the allegations as a “lie”, and said not a single drop of water will be given to Tamil Nadu. "All that is lie. Who will let the water flow, that too in this situation? We will not give even a drop of water to Tamil Nadu without retaining water for our consumption," He said, as quoted by PTI.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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