Several areas in Bengaluru are facing a severe water crisis, leaving the residents of the city worried and wondering what their options are. News reports say that this has allowed water tanker mafias to charge exorbitant amounts to deliver water to the door steps.

The New Indian Express reports that in Bellandur, an area with many high-rise buildings, people are trying to outbid each other to ensure they have adequate water supply.

The locality is home to people who work in Bengaluru’s booming IT sector.

A report in The Hindu says that the price of supplying a 6,000-litre tanker of water has shot up from Rs 800 to Rs 1300-1400.

The water prices are also likely to surge in the next three months. Vishnu Prasad, president, Bellandur Development Forum, told The New Indian Express, “The borewells have all dried up two weeks ago. So, water tanker operators are now auctioning the water supplied by them to whichever apartment is willing to quote the highest price. The price we paid for a tanker last week was Rs 1,200 for 6,000 litres. It will surge in the next three months.”

Reports say that Bellandur is home to more than 1,000 apartment buildings that right now have no water supply.

Bengaluru has faced water problems for a long time, and reports had earlier warned that a severe water crisis was likely in the city. However, officials say that a solution to the problem is not likely before the end of this year.