QUEEN’S ROAD: Frequent power cuts have crippled the washing machines installed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) at three dhobi ghats in the city.
Washermen now work overtime, standing knee-deep in pits of water laced with chlorine and caustic soda, while the machines lie idle for a good part of the day.
Raju, secretary of Malleswaram Dhobi Ghat Association, said, “We have to wash 10 lakh pieces of cloth every day to meet the demand of the hospitality and travel industries. The power cuts have become a nightmare.”
In 2011, the BBMP launched a project to mechanise dhobi ghats across the city. It was to spend `8.25 crore
to instal automatic washing machines. The project is fully functional at Malleswaram, Rajajinagar and Banashankari. Mechanisation of other dhobi ghats is under way.
However, the washing machines and dryers are of no use because of daily power cuts stretching up to four hours.
Vasu, a washerman at Rajajinagar, said, “Our customers want the clothes delivered on time. We increased our daily workload after the machines were installed, but the power cuts are forcing us into more manual labour.”
The Malleswaram ghat, located on 15th Cross, supports about 300 washermen and their families.
Some washermen have contracted skin diseases after standing in stagnant water. Because of a water shortage, they have to use less water to wash more clothes. This means they work in a pool concentrated with harmful chemicals.
On October 16, the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM) announced staggered holidays for industries. At the same time, it announced scheduled power cuts of two to four hours in residential areas. However, washermen say they have supply only for six to eight hours a day. Ramu, a washerman, said, “If there is no power, there is no water. We have to use the water judiciously, and the pool is drained at longer intervals.”
Washermen in Rajajinagar and Banashankari are facing similar problems. Members of the city unit of the Karnataka Madivala Sangha have written to BESCOM about their plight.
Raju said, “Demand is high this season, and business is suffering. But we cannot increase our workload as most of us are already working till 10 pm. Earlier, we used to be done by 6 pm.”