BENGALURU: Bengalureans have been forced to cut down their usage of non-potable water following the scrapping of the Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes. While business of private water supply tankers in the city has been hit, BWSSB tankers are not affected much as it continues to accept payments in the old currency notes at its kiosks.
To sustain their business, tanker suppliers are making all sorts of adjustments for payments. Some private suppliers are accepting old currency notes and plan to deposit them in banks later while one tanker supplier is taking the old currency note in the form of a guarantee from known customers by making them promise to provide Rs 100 notes in exchange for it within a week. Some outrightly reject old notes.
The cost of a full load (6,000 litres) of water ranges between Rs 540 and Rs 600 while a half load (3,000 litres) costs between Rs 400 and Rs 450 from private suppliers. The costs vary depending on the area and could go higher if the tanker has to undertake a trip beyond 5 km. A BWSSB tanker has a fixed price of Rs 540 for a full tanker load.
Shaeen, proprietor of R K Enterprises in Indiranagar speaks of a 50 per cent slump in his business the last one week following demonetisation. “Eateries, hotels and restaurants continue to give us business as they make monthly payments only. However, residents say they have only old currency notes and hence we are not able to accept that,” she said.
R Naveen, proprietor of Om Shanthi Sweet Water Supply in Banashankari Stage II, said that he has hit upon a good strategy to counter this. “I accept the old Rs 500 notes but that is only from customers I really know well over the years. I take it from them only on the condition that they would exchange it for five Rs 100 rupee within a week after withdrawing from an ATM or exchanging at a bank,” he said. This kind of understanding cannot be arrived at with new customers and this has resulted in a 25 per cent slump in business, Naveen added.
The proprietor of Sri Muneshwara Water Supply, C Krishnamoorthy said that he was accepting all the old notes in order to ensure there was no dip in business. “We do have time up to December 30 to exchange the old notes at banks. So I think I will deposit these notes before that.”
Mathikere-based SSV Water Tanker Supply owner Prakash concedes he was also accepting old notes. “We need to pay the driver on our roll Rs 300 as byata (allowance) daily. We cannot afford to say no to business.”