A cycle of health emergencies and financial strain has gripped residents of Bhuvaneshwari Nagar’s Fifth Cross and 8th Main in Ward 14, following repeated intrusion of sewage into drinking water lines. Complaints lodged over months with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) have yielded only temporary fixes, leaving families to shoulder medical bills and repeated private sump cleanings.
Households report foul‑smelling tap water entering overhead tanks and kitchens, leading to gastrointestinal illnesses among children, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups. With no remedial action forthcoming, residents spent up to Rs 6,000 in two days on bottled and tanker water, sump cleansing, and basic hygiene necessities. Beyond the indignity of contaminated water, families are incurring recurring expenses, unsure whether their pipelines are truly sanitised. One resident lamented: “We pay every month for water, yet live in misery—it’s filthy, costly, and there’s no accountability.” Calls for audits of ageing sewage and supply infrastructure are growing louder.
Experts confirm that this incident is symptomatic of wider issues across Bengaluru, particularly in slum and peri‑urban areas where broken pipelines and proximity to drainage lines often compromise Cauvery water supply. Previously affected sectors such as HBR Layout and Vidyanagar Layout have reported E. coli outbreaks and persistent contamination, even after repeated BWSSB interventions. In one landmark case in Pulakeshi Nagar, over 30 residents fell ill after ingesting water tainted by a corroded GI pipeline. Only after media exposure and pressure from the BBMP chief did BWSSB replace the pipeline, halting the contamination crisis and addressing the health hazard.
Residents argue that BWSSB’s reactive practices fail to resolve systemic vulnerabilities in the supply framework. Community leaders now demand structural audits, compensation for affected households, and transparent engagement with public agencies including BBMP and BWSSB. As the public’s trust erodes, activists stress that equitable access to safe drinking water is critical for urban resilience and sustainable cities. Until civic bodies proactively modernise pipeline networks and enforce sanitation norms, families in Bhuvaneshwari Nagar and similar zones continue to endure the cost of public infrastructure failures—both monetary and social.
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