Amid the relentless water crisis gripping Karnataka’s capital, Bengaluru, industrial units in the Peenya Industrial area face the grim prospect of shutting down operations as authorities slash water supply to the units by 60 percent, stated the President of the Peenya Industrial Association.
Arif, the President, highlighted that earlier, the government shut down bore wells in Peenya Industrial Area due to heavy metal contamination, leaving industries reliant solely on Cauvery water. With Cauvery water supply now halted, Arif warned of potential closures for many companies in Peenya.
The President emphasized the perilous impact on the livelihoods of over 12 lakh workers across 16,000 industrial units in Peenya. Despite being the largest industrial zone in Bengaluru, Peenya’s growth is stymied by a 50 percent industry slowdown owing to acute water shortages, Arif added. He noted that the water board has curtailed supply by 60 percent, prioritizing domestic needs as bore wells run dry.
With bore wells and lakes desiccated, residents resort to water tankers, but cumbersome registration processes and crackdowns on illegal tankers exacerbate their plight. Viral notices from apartment complexes attest to the severity, urging residents to conserve water rigorously, limiting daily usage to half a bucket per person for bathing and household chores.
As the city grapples with escalating water woes, concerted efforts are imperative to alleviate the crisis and safeguard the well-being of Bengaluru’s residents and industries alike.
