Affluent families and gated communities of India’s Silicon Valley are now being faced with acute water shortages and are now forced to resort to unconventional measures such as utilizing mall restrooms, wet wipes, and disposable cutlery due to the depleted water levels in the bore wells across the city.
India’s Silicon Valley Grapples Acute Water Shortage
Home to numerous startups and multinational corporations like Walmart and Alphabet’s Google and approximately 14 million people, the city has implemented strict measures to combat the crisis.
Other water consumption activities like car washing, gardening, construction, water fountains have all been prohibited as per the latest guidelines. These are enforced with hefty fines of up to Rs 5,000.
Putting further strain to the pockets of people, private water tankers are now charging exorbitant prices which is reaching up to Rs 3,000 per load of 12,000 liters, remarkably higher than what was previously charged for the same volume.
The situation has gone to the level where residents of gated communities are compelled to visit nearby malls solely for access to restroom facilities.
As per the reports, the residents are resorting to the Forum Mall for this purpose.
Highlighting the prolonged absence of regular water supply as well as the subsequent need for temporary accommodations, many citizens have voiced their opinions on the internet.
Water Shortage: The New Industry Disrupter
The acute water crisis has disrupted daily life, activities and business operations, employees like a senior Dell staff member have expressed concerns about productivity loss due to the pursuit of water tankers.
Attributed to insufficient monsoon rains and depleted groundwater reserves, this crisis has now resulted to water rationing and escalated costs for residents.
Necessity is mother of invention indeed and the same is reflective in company resorting to innovative approaches to conserve water. Microsoft has implemented measures such as tap aerators and water recycling. For landscaping and gardening, Walmart has advocated the use of recycled water.
Production levels for the industrial sectors has also taken a hit amid water shortage.
In order to address the skyrocketing prices of water tankers, government has imposed a price cap of Rs 1,200 per unit for government-commissioned water tankers.
