Bengaluru, India’s tech hub, is grappling with a severe water crisis, primarily driven by a relentless drought. The city’s lifeline, the Cauvery River, is dwindling due to insufficient rainfall, exacerbating the already critical water situation. This scarcity isn’t confined to drinking water alone; it’s severely impacting agricultural irrigation as well. Furthermore, borewells across Bengaluru are drying up rapidly, further compounding the crisis.
The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has sounded the alarm, indicating that while central areas might manage, the outskirts face an alarming scarcity. In response, the state government has unveiled measures to tackle the crisis head-on. Plans are underway to utilize milk tankers from the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) to ferry water into the city. Additionally, the government intends to take control of private borewells within Bengaluru and its environs to augment the water supply.
However, amidst these efforts, concerns arise regarding water tanker operators exploiting the situation by charging exorbitant prices. What was once a reasonable fee of ₹600 to ₹800 for a 1000-liter water tanker has soared to over ₹2000, leaving residents financially burdened.
In a bid to address the long-term water woes, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced a significant initiative in the 2024-2025 budget speech. The BWSSB is set to embark on Phase-5 of the Cauvery project, aiming to provide a daily quota of 110 liters of drinking water to approximately 12 lakh people. This ambitious endeavor comes with a hefty price tag of Rs 5,550 crore and is slated for completion by May 2024. Furthermore, the project encompasses underground drainage works, including laying 228 km of pipeline and constructing 13 sewage treatment plants capable of processing 100 MLD of sewage water.
The urgency of these initiatives is underscored by data from the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre (KSNDMC). As of February 28, reservoirs in the Cauvery Basin, such as Harangi, Hemavathi, KRS, and Kabini, are at a mere 39% of their total capacity. These reservoirs, with a collective capacity of 114.57 TMC, currently hold around 44.65 TMC of water, a stark contrast to last year’s 64.61 TMC at the same period.
Bengaluru’s water crisis demands immediate action and sustainable solutions. While short-term measures provide temporary relief, long-term investments in infrastructure and water management are imperative for the city’s resilience. As the government races against time, the hope is that these efforts will secure Bengaluru’s water future and mitigate the plight of its residents.
