Around 50 societies in Satya Nagar have been facing an acute water shortage for the last 15 years. Residents say the BMC and corporators have refused to do anything about it.

We have been getting only half-an-hour to one hour water supply from the BMC per day, says Raghu Ravindran, a 32-year-old resident of Takshila building, Satya Nagar, adding, The water pressure is too low to fill the ground water tank let alone the over-head tank.

After repeated written complaints to the BMC we decided to call the local corporator, Gopal Shetty, to solve our problem, adds Ravindran.

We were assured that it was a city-wide problem and it would be solved within six months, says Gitanjali Saxena, a 28-year-old resident of the same building.

Those six months have extended to 15 years but neither the BMC nor the local corporator has done anything to solve the problem, adds Saxena.
In the meantime residents have been dependent on water tankers for water. We get a water tanker every alternate day, which has left us at their mercy, says Sushil Tadwi, a 54-year-old resident of Kamakshi
building.

With each tanker costing Rs 1,500 (for potable water), our society spends around Rs 22,500 per month, says Tadwi. Thus, Kamakshi building spends approximately Rs 2.7 lakh every year only on potable water.

Living with such a water crisis, I can assure you that no one would treasure water flowing from a tap as much as we do, says Snehal Tadwi.
AS Bhujbal, ward officer of R-central, says, After I have taken up the post of the ward officer, I have not received any written complaints from residents of the area. He adds, Once the residents file a fresh complaint, I will try my best to solve the problem.

Rs 1,500
The cost of a tanker of potable water

Rs 22,500
The cost of potable water per month per building

Rs 2.7 lakh
The cost per building, per year for potable water

What can be done with Rs 2.7 lakh?

Says Tadwi, The money could have been used for plastering, painting and strengthening the buildings in the society which are more than 25 years old. These repairs have been pending for years.

pooja@mid-day.com