Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has taken action against 22 families for utilizing drinking water for non-essential purposes, such as washing cars and gardening, amidst a severe water scarcity in the state. The board has collected fines totaling Rs 1.1 lakh, with each family being levied a fine of Rs 5,000 for violating water conservation directives issued by the board.

According to BWSSB officials, the restrictions were enforced on March 22, and by March 24, 22 instances of violations had been recorded, with fines being collected on the spot and receipts issued. Most of the complaints against the offenders were received through various social media platforms, officials noted.

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In the second week of March, the BWSSB imposed a ban on various water-consuming activities in the city, including cleaning vehicles, gardening, construction work, operation of fountains, entertainment purposes, and non-drinking water usage in cinema halls, malls, as well as for road construction and cleanliness.

With Holi celebrations approaching, the BWSSB has also urged residents to refrain from using Cauvery and borewell water for pool parties and rain dances. Additionally, the board has encouraged the installation of aerators in hotels, apartments, and industries to reduce water consumption.

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Pune (PTI): NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday claimed the misuse of power and money to control the entire election mechanism, which was never before seen in any state assembly or national polls, was witnessed in Maharashtra.

Pawar made the statement when he visited senior activist Dr Baba Adhav, who is protesting against the alleged "misuse of EVMs" in the recent state polls in Maharashtra.

Adhav, who is in his 90s, began his three-day protest at Phule Wada, the residence of social reformer Jyotiba Phule, in the city on Thursday.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies, the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP), have been alleging manipulation of EVMs in the recently held Maharashtra Assembly elections, which saw a landslide victory by the Mahayuti.

The Mahayuti, comprising the Shiv Sena, BJP and NCP, won 230 out of 288 assembly seats in the November 20 polls, while the MVA managed just 46 seats.Talking to reporters, Pawar said elections were conducted recently in the country, and there is a restlessness among the people about these.

Baba Adhav's agitation represents this restlessness, he said.

He said, "There is a murmur among the people that the recent polls in Maharashtra saw 'misuse of power' and 'floods of money', which was never seen in the past. Such things are heard of in local-level polls, but taking over the entire election mechanism with the help of money and misuse of power was not seen before. However, we witnessed it in Maharashtra, and people are restless now."

He added that people were recalling late socialist ideologue Jaiprakash Narayan and felt somebody should take a step forward.

"I heard Baba Adhav has taken a lead into this issue and is agitating at Phule Wada. His protest gives hope to the people, but it is not enough. A mass revolt is necessary, as the danger of the parliamentary democracy getting destroyed looms," Pawar said.

The former Union minister said those who have reins of the country in their hands are least bothered about this.

"Despite widespread discussion over it (alleged misuse of EVMs) in the country, whenever the opposition tries to raise the issue in the Parliament, they are not allowed to speak. Opposition leaders have been seeking an opportunity to speak on these issues for six days, but their demands have not been accepted even once. It shows they want to attack parliamentary democracy," he claimed.

He said Dr Adhav's protest is a fine example of someone revolting against the issue and expressed confidence that his protest will create a ripple effect.