Crore-Worthy Flats, Tanker-Reliant Lives: Bengalurians Cry Over Water Crisis

Bengalurians, especially those who stay in the high-rise buildings, are venting out their frustration as they struggle to get water for their basic needs.

With the tanker owners cashing in on the demand and politicians doing little to resolve the issue, tough days are ahead for Bengalurians.

Many are speaking about the crisis on social media sites over their struggle to get water despite living in high-rise apartments after paying over crore rupees.

A user on X said, "There was a time when Bangalore malls were used for people discussing start up ideas and now people are using it to bathe and toilet because their 1.5cr flats have no water. Itna development bhi nahi chahiye tha."

One user on Reddit shared a rant about not receiving water with a headline - 'Never buy or rent a flat in any skyscrapers'.

Millions for Homes and Tears for Water?

The gist of his post is that residents at the said apartment have been enduring severe water scarcity for over a month, with no daytime supply and muddy, unusable water at night. The situation has forced many to leave or find temporary accommodations. Cooking and cleaning utensils have become impossible, with some resorting to gyms for bathing. This ordeal highlights the risks of buying properties reliant on tanker water, prompting advice against such investments in Bengaluru.

The post read: "It has been more than an month since we received regular round the clock supply of water in our flat in prestige falcon city. Now the situation is beyond the limits of what can be called inhabitable.

No water during the daytime, when we do get it during the night its just muddy water unfit for bathing. The residents association has called for the use of wet wipes and disposable cutlery for washing and eating. Most of the tenants have vacated while others have moved to temporary accommodation. You get to smell the stink of unflushed human excreta in toilet bowls from far away. It's not uncommon to see a line of residents going to the nearby forum mall to do their business. Talking of cooking, no choice other than ordering from outside as the utensils are not cleaned. Some people are going to gyms along with a pair of clothes and towel to bath and come back. Too much frustration and pain to bear when you are paying Emi for 1cr+ of housing loan.

A honest advice : Never buy a flat in Bangalore which is dependent on tanker water forever. It's better to live in a rented home with a peace of mind rather than suffer like this."

Another user on X said, "Prestige Falcon City, Prestige Shantiniketan , Brigade . These famous apartment complexes are facing never seen before level of water crisis. Pity the buyers. #Bengaluru #WaterCrisis."

Another person highlighted the irony of investing in luxury properties without basic utilities like water supply. He said, "Imagine buying 2cr+ worth apartments & having to live this way. Based on this message it looks like they have been dependent on water tankers on daily basis - what good is having a mall & a metro line in walkable distance if there is no water?"

"Waiting for housing market to crash. Don't come at me guys but its much needed. You can't charge crores and not have basic amenity as water," a netizen said.

However, one user said that the issue is temporary and predicted that the price will shoot up in the same plats. "These type of issues are transitory after a year in the same falcon city flat prices will be up another 20-25%," the user claimed.

Karnataka is grappling with a severe water crisis, exacerbated by poor rainfall in 2023, attributed to the El Nino effect by the Indian Meteorological Department. The gravity of the situation is evident as water tankers were spotted at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's residence on Kumarakrupa Road in Bengaluru. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar noted that the borewell at his Sadashivanagar residence in the state capital has run dry for the first time, despite its proximity to Sankey Lake.