As the scorching summer season remains weeks away, Bengaluru finds itself grappling with severe water scarcity, causing distress among its populace. The situation has spurred many to question the factors underlying this alarming predicament.
Sujatha, a mathematics educator residing in the affluent Whitefield area of Bengaluru, expressed her dismay, remarking, "Bengaluru used to be called pensioners' paradise. Now, it should be called pensioners' punishment...we are being forced to use water very judiciously."
This sentiment resonates with thousands of Bengaluru residents who have been lamenting the acute water shortage and supply disruptions that have plagued the city, often referred to as India's 'Silicon Valley', since mid-January.
The root causes of Bengaluru's water crisis are manifold, ranging from deficient rainfall, depletion of borewells, diminishing groundwater levels, and inadequacies in infrastructural planning, to the presence of a water tanker mafia.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), entrusted with managing Bengaluru's water supply, primarily relies on the Cauvery River for sourcing water. However, areas lacking access to Cauvery water connections resort to borewells or tanker water.
Despite an inflow of approximately 1,450 million liters per day (MLD) from the Cauvery, Bengaluru still grapples with a shortfall of 1,680 million liters per day.
Consequently, residents have turned to private tankers to meet their water needs, albeit at a steep cost. These tankers have significantly inflated their prices in recent months, leaving residents burdened with exorbitant expenses.
Congress MLA Rizwan Arshad attributed the crisis to the activities of the tanker mafia and leakages resulting from aging pipeline systems. Meanwhile, BJP leader and Chickpet MLA Uday Garudachar underscored the imperative of population control in Bengaluru, emphasizing the necessity for proactive governmental planning.
The burgeoning population in Bengaluru exacerbates the strain on the city's water resources, with the current population of approximately 1 crore expected to surge to 1.25 crore by 2025. This burgeoning population growth has coincided with alarming declines in water bodies and green cover over the past four decades.
The proposed construction of the Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery River has been posited as a potential solution to Bengaluru's water woes. However, this initiative faces hurdles stemming from interstate disputes over water sharing.
In response to mounting concerns, the Karnataka government has earmarked Rs 200 crore in the budget to bolster drinking water infrastructure and explore measures to enhance borewell depth. Additionally, the government intends to regulate water tanker rates to mitigate the financial burden on residents.
As Bengaluru braces itself for the impending monsoon season, the efficacy of these measures remains uncertain. Only time will elucidate whether these efforts suffice to alleviate the crisis or if the situation deteriorates further.
