Metro pillars could help solve Bengaluru's water crisis

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: Despite ample rainfall during the ongoing monsoon, the State capital is faced with a severe water scarcity.

The city's population has grown rapidly in recent years, putting a strain on its water resources. Bengaluru's population has more than doubled in the past 20 years, and it is expected to reach 20 million by 2031.

This rapid growth has put a strain on the city's water resources, as more and more people are competing for the same amount of water. Inefficient water use and poor water management practices are also exacerbating Bengaluru's water scarcity crisis.

The city has a high rate of water leakage, and it is estimated that up to 40% of the water that is supplied to the city is lost before it reaches its end users.

Bengaluru also lacks a comprehensive water management plan, which has made it difficult for the city to effectively address its water scarcity crisis. In an effort to address this issue, activists are demanding that the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) use some of its allocated funds to install rainwater harvesting systems in the metro pillars.

The pillars, which are made of concrete, can provide a large surface area for rainwater collection. The collected water c a n then be stored in underground tanks and used for irrigation, drinking, and other purposes.

The BMRCL has already installed rainwater harvesting systems at some of its metro stations. However, activists argue that more needs to be done. They say that the metro pillars, which are located all over the city, could provide a significant source of water if they were equipped with rainwater harvesting systems.

"The BMRCL has the resources to install rainwater harvesting systems in the metro pillars," said Raghavendra B Pachhapur from ActionAid Association. "They should do this as a way of giving back to the city and helping to solve the water crisis."

The corporation has previously said that it is committed to rainwater harvesting. In 2017, the BMRCL announced a plan to install rainwater harvesting systems at all of its metro stations. However, the plan has not yet been implemented.

Pachhapur added that implementing rainwater harvesting in BMRCL pillars will not be a huge expense for them and it will help BWSSB reduce the huge expense of transporting 1400 million tonnes of water from Cauvery.

Activists say that the BMRCL needs to act now to address the water crisis in Bengaluru. Pachhapur argues that rainwater harvesting is a simple and effective way to conserve water.