BELAGAVI: A brand new ‘drinking water package’ has been introduced in some drought-hit villages of Belagavi district. Water supply is turning into a good source of income for persons owning water resources.
The scarcity of water has made life miserable in villages. The villagers have started approaching neighbours to purchase water on a daily basis.
Due to the regular trade, these water traders have even introduced monthly packages for their customers. Yallappa, (name changed), a water trader from Prabhu Nagar, said the water package is cheap, enough to meet the maintenance cost of his borewell, pump and power supply. He said he charges Rs 150 per month to provide 15 pots of water per day. If the requirement is more than 15 pots but less than 30, the charges are doubled.
Renuka Madali, a resident of Haval Nagar, said she has been purchasing water from a neighbour at Rs 150 per month. She said she takes about 15 to 20 pots of water a day and does not mind paying him. Renuka said her family is very poor and cannot afford to hire a water tanker and the government supply through tankers is insufficient.
The Bhagya Laxmi Society (BLS) of Khanapur has established a counter which sells purified water. It has its own purifying unit. The counter charges Rs 10 to provide 20 litres of drinking water. Kaushalya Patil of Khanapur said she does not mind purchasing purified drinking water, as it is safe and far more affordable than purchasing mineral water.