Bangalore's water sources are drying up and the city may face a water shortage in the future

Water Shortage in Bengaluru: Bengaluru is already facing a shortage of drinking water due to a lack of rain. There is fear that the situation will worsen in summer. Even now, if the administration does not wake up and take action, it is certain that in the future, the entire Bangalore will suffer without water.

Bengaluru, Dec 13: Bengaluru, which is eager to be recognized among the world’s leading cities, is already facing water problems. If the government does not take the necessary measures to protect the water bodies of the city, the water problem will surely be a big challenge in the future!

There is a lack of infrastructure in the entire city. A future water crisis for a city in such dire condition is unimaginable. In 2018, a report based on a study by the World Organization and the Asian Development Bank revealed the alarming fact that “Bangalore is the first city to be flooded in the country”. However, the government and local bodies have failed to take effective measures for water sustainability.

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According to BBMP in 2020, out of 210 lakes under its jurisdiction, 18 lakes and 17 guntas with a total area of 254 acres were identified as dry lakes. They run the risk of overlapping and mutating over time. Out of 11,533 tube wells maintained by Jalmandal to supply additional water, 823 have dried up. The water level in 10,710 borewells also decreased. Borewells drilled by the public for drinking water purposes also include groundwater tables.

Lake water is polluted

On the one hand water scarcity is created, on the other hand, lake water is getting polluted. A team of experts studied 193 lakes in the city and found that 98 percent of the lake water is polluted by industrial and domestic waste. Humans are consuming vegetables, greens, fish from lakes, and cow’s milk in Kolar, Bidadi, and Anekal areas around the capital due to such poisonous water.

High metal content is found in these food items. As a result, there are health problems. Thus cancer and kidney failure are increasing in Bangalore. According to a report 12 years ago, one in 1 lakh people had kidney failure. Kidney failure now affects one in 5,000 people.

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What are the remedial measures?

If there are 60% native species forests, the water bodies will get water throughout the year.
33% forest should be in the Cauvery basin. However, only 18% is forested.
Bangalore gets 19 TMC of wastewater for use.
About 16 TMC of water will be available if processed in a stepwise manner.
If rainwater harvesting is implemented effectively, 15 TMC (70 percent) of water will be available.

“For the Mekedatu project, 5 thousand hectares of forest will be destroyed. This forest can hold 100 TMC of water. The government is saying that it will collect 65 TMC water by building a dam. When there is 100 TMC water, this project is unnecessary. Naturally, if the Rs 5,000 crore spent on this project is used to rehabilitate Bengaluru’s lakes, we will get the water we need here,” said hydrologist Dr TV Ramachandra.

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