Karnataka govt cracks down on pvt water tanker operators, seizes 14 vehicles

With the potable water crisis worsening in the city, the state govt has begun cracking down on private water tanker operators who are defying its efforts to regulate them. Fourteen water tankers have already been impounded in the city.

Under the Disaster Management Act (DMA) to deal with the drought, the transport department has started impounding tankers, with just two days left for the March 7 deadline set by the government for private water suppliers to register their vehicles with BWSSB.

The move follows deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar's warning to take over water tankers after only 200-odd vehicles, out of a total of 3,000, had registered.

Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy said: "RTOs in the city have been instructed to impound water tankers and hand them over to the civic authorities."

Joint commissioner (Bengaluru Urban) of Transport Department M Shobha told TOI that in the last couple of days 14 water tankers have been impounded across Bengaluru.

“Following the direction from the district administration we have impounded 14 water tankers in areas such as JP Nagar, Jayangar and adjoining areas. Vehicles have been handed over to BWSSB. As per transport department data, 3000 tankers are registered in the city, including those transporting water, milk and other products. Exact numbers of water tankers will be known after March 7,” the Joint Commissioner said.