With authorities failing to adequately provide for lakhs of parched citizens from rural, and even some urban areas, the scorching summers appear to be the ideal time for water tanker owners to make a killing. That’s not the whole truth. While the government is attempting to send fleets of tankers to regions with severe water scarcity, the money paid to the operators is absurd —Rs 118.27 per 1,000 litres and an additional Rs 1.36 per kilometre. To compound this, records show that there are outstanding amounts still to be paid to many. This explains why when tenders were being invited in February, not a single water tanker owner came forward.

Not a cash cow: Tanker operators say they can’t do charity work, especially considering the high prices of diesel and the low rates being offered to them by authorities. Pic/Atul Kamble