Bengaluru: Stepping up efforts to conserve drinking water this summer, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) collected Rs 2.2 lakh in spot fines from 44 violators between March 1 and May 8, as part of an ongoing crackdown on the misuse of potable water in the city.The amount was collected from violators as the board intensified its enforcement against the wastage of drinking water. A penalty of Rs 5,000 per violation was imposed under BWSSB’s water conservation regulations, which prohibit the use of treated drinking water for non-essential activities such as washing vehicles, gardening, construction work, road cleaning, and operating decorative fountains.The board first intensified enforcement of these rules during the 2024 water crisis, when concerns over depleting groundwater levels and reservoir storage prompted stricter monitoring and penalties.Data released by BWSSB shows that East zone recorded the highest number of violations, accounting for 17 of the 44 cases and generating Rs 85,000 in fines. EE(E)-2 division alone reported 11 violations, indicating a concentration of offences in parts of east Bengaluru.West and South zones reported 12 violations each, contributing Rs 60,000 per zone. In West zone, EE(W)-3 division accounted for 10 cases, making it one of the city’s biggest hotspots for water wastage during the period under review.North zone fared relatively better, with only three violations detected and fines amounting to Rs 15,000. In contrast, Central zone recorded zero violations, making it the only zone in Bengaluru to achieve full compliance during the two-month period.The figures suggest that while awareness about water conservation has improved in some parts of the city, misuse of drinking water continues in several localities despite repeated warnings and penalties. With summer demand placing pressure on water resources, BWSSB has continued inspections across Bengaluru and maintained spot fines of Rs 5,000 per violation to deter wastage. Ram Prasath Manohar V, chairman of the water board, said: “Awareness about water conservation has increased significantly, and the message against water wastage is loud and clear. More people are voluntarily complying and are conscious about avoiding wastage. While that may have contributed to fewer reported violations, we still need to strengthen enforcement so that even small instances of water wastage are identified and controlled.”On Feb 17, 2025, the board issued a directive prohibiting the use of drinking water for non-essential purposes. The directive was issued in accordance with Sections 33 and 34 of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Act, 1964.Meanwhile, some residents said incidents of water wastage continue to be reported. Shiva K, a resident of JP Nagar 6th Phase, said: “Even last week, one of our neighbours left the water running from morning until around 9pm. A huge amount of water was wasted because the tanker was full and overflowing. We tried contacting the owner, but he said the worker was supposed to look into it, and the worker was not answering calls. They simply did not seem to care, despite the massive wastage. Many people are still not aware of the seriousness of the issue. Govt should conduct more awareness campaigns so that people understand the importance of conserving water.”
