Bangalore Water Crisis : Story Explained
Its not just about Bangalore (Bengaluru), its all in down south region. Lastly it was Chennai, now its Silicon Valley of India.
Bengaluru has been struggling with a serious water crisis for over 1 month. The problem is not just limited to India’s Silicon Valley. Several South Indian states may experience water shortages due to dangerously low water levels in its key dams this summer.
During record-high temperatures, Bengaluru has been struggling with a serious water crisis for more than a month. However, the problem is not just limited to India’s Silicon Valley. Problem is somewhere else. Heyy, you got it right..!! its EXTREME Urbanization, then ZERO TOWN PLANNING.
Bangalore Water Crisis : But why it is happening, what the reasons could be….?
- Mushroomed Industry, office spaces where millions of litres of water is used daily.
- Societies, gated communities where NOT ALL are having a proper rain water harvesting installed.
- Mushroomed GYMS and Swimming pools, sports arenas which hosts a lot of water daily, and dispose without properly following government rules.
- Hundreds of houses having personal swimming pools, only used by a couple of residents, but thousand of litres of water is exchanged daily.
- NO PROPER replenishments of groundwater.
- Usage of drinking water in car washing, swimming pools.
- Uncontrolled usage of ground water.
- Local authorities not able to control the situation.
Authorities in Bengaluru have fined 22 families for allegedly “misusing” drinking water for non-essential activities like cleaning cars as the city battles its worst water crisis in decades. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewarage Board (BWSSB) has collected a fine of Rs 1.10 lakh in just three days. Ohh come on, this could have started 10 years back for all defaulters.
Authorities have appealed to Bengaluru residents to use water judiciously. “Most of the complaints are being registered from the south-east of the city, and along with complaints, warnings and appeals are being issued to the people asking them to use water sparingly,” BWSSB chairperson Ram Prashant Manohar said.
The south-west area of the city alone has accounted for fines worth Rs 65,000 out of the total 1.10 lakh levied so far, officials said. Earlier this month, the BWSSB imposed a ban on the use of water for cleaning vehicles, gardening, building construction, running fountains etc.
“The temperatures are rising in the city every day, and the groundwater level has decreased due to lack of rain in recent days. As a result, it is necessary to prevent wastage of water in the city, and it has been made necessary for the public to use drinking water sparingly,” a BWSSB order read.
Credits : Abhi & Niyu on YOUTUBE
Bangalore Water Crisis – THE IMPACT :
Bengaluru IT companies, facing WFH demands, get a message on water crisis
The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has reassured IT companies in the city of water supply, alleviating their concerns, amid reports of invitations from neighboring states to relocate due to water shortages. There has also been a growing chorus on social media urging corporates to give WFH or work from home option as daily lives get impacted due to the water shortage.
Manohar emphasized BWSSB’s commitment to ensuring sufficient water supply to IT firms, affirming that measures implemented citywide would extend to serve these companies. He also urged prudent water usage, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness among employees regarding water conservation practices.
BWSSB authorities say that the completion of Cauvery 5th stage project would help in additional supply of 775 million litres per day (MLD) of water, significantly augmenting water availability and addressing shortages.
Netizens echoed concerns about water scarcity, urging BWSSB to devise long-term solutions for sustainable water management. Some emphasized the unprecedented nature of Bangalore’s water crisis, advocating for government intervention to mitigate environmental degradation, particularly the concretization of the Silicon Valley, which hinders percolation of rain water into the ground.
Bangalore Water Crisis : NOW Other states woo Bengaluru IT companies
It has been earlier reported that Kerala has reached out to leading technology firms in Bengaluru, urging them to consider the coastal state for expansion amid reports of a water crisis in the tech hub. Kerala Industries & Law Minister P Rajeev stated that they offered IT companies abundant water and comprehensive facilities, citing the state’s 44 rivers as a reliable water source.
Bengaluru, a key center of India’s $254 billion IT industry, is facing daily water deficit of approximately 500 million liters, against the city’s demand of 2,600 MLD.
Cauvery Phase 5 project
Historically, Bengaluru depended on water from nearby lakes. The Arkavathi water supply scheme began in 1896, initially providing 117 MLD of water to the city. However, as Bengaluru’s population burgeoned, this supply proved insufficient. In response, in 1974, the Karnataka government first allocated 19 TMC of water from the Cauvery river, situated approximately 90 kilometers away.