Bengaluru to have dry year amid groundwater depletion, lack of monsoon and RWH

Sowmya Raju | NT

Bengaluru: Bengaluru the "Garden City," has been entangled in a prolonged struggle with water scarcity, a predicament that has intensified over the years.

Despite its historical reliance on the monsoons to rejuvenate its arid landscapes, recent years have presented contrasting narratives, leaving residents apprehensive about the looming summer.

Bengaluru's parched past, uncertain future

The year 2022 saw only 620 mm of rainfall, marking its lowest in 42 years, and the city found itself grappling with depleted reservoirs.

Authorities were compelled to enact drastic measures such as water rationing and deploying tanker deliveries. Borewell water levels plummeted, triggering acute shortages even of non-potable water.

The summer of 2023 witnessed long queues at water kiosks and residents imploring for tanker deliveries. In 2023, Bengaluru saw improved rainfall at 980 mm, exceeding the average.

Uneven distribution and heavy downpours in September, coinciding with the Cauvery water-sharing agreement, create uncertainty. The city's lack of efficient rainwater harvesting infrastructure leads to substantial percolation and downstream flow.

Bengaluru to face severe water crisis

As the spectre of scarcity looms over 2024, experts remain concerned about the impending summer. The groundwater table remains alarmingly lower than the norm, and uncertainties persist regarding Cauvery water allocations.

The escalating temperatures attributed to climate change are poised to intensify evaporation, exacerbating water stress. Sandeep Anirudhan, an activist and the coordinator of Namma Whitefield, expressed his concerns during a conversation with NewsTrail, stating, "The relentless drilling of borewells has dangerously depleted groundwater levels to below 1,800 feet, pushing the area to the brink of water source exhaustion. This unregulated exploitation has resulted in a severe water shortage, leaving legitimate residents without access to vital water resources."

As summer unfolds in Bengaluru, marked by sunny days over the past weeks, residents in various areas are already lamenting the abrupt cessation of water supply without prior warning.

This unexpected disruption has inconvenienced residents, catching them off guard during routine activities. Many residents of apartment complexes find themselves increasingly dependent on tanker lorries for their daily water consumption, with prices escalating day by day.

The situation is even more dire in several urban slums, where residents are already grappling with water scarcity, and the impending summer exacerbates their challenges.

The looming water crisis intensifies their struggle to secure this essential resource.

Activist urges BMRCL rainwater initiative

Raghavendra B Pachhapur from ActionAid Association urges the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) to allocate funds for installing rainwater harvesting ((RWH) systems in metro pillars to address the water crisis in Bengaluru.

Concrete metro pillars, spread across the city, present a substantial surface area for rainwater collection, which can be stored underground for various purposes.

While some metro stations have already implemented rainwater harvesting, activists argue that extending this to metro pillars can significantly contribute to water conservation.

Pachhapur emphasises the simplicity and effectiveness of rainwater harvesting in mitigating the city's water issues and urges prompt action from the BMRCL.