From City Of Lakes To Silicon Valley Of India: Why Bengaluru Is Now Overrun By Water Tankers

Once celebrated for its many lakes and pleasant weather, the city's landscape has changed, leaving residents to recall the importance of lakes only when the monsoons come thundering every year. An Indian Institute of Science (IISC) study exposes the grim reality: A staggering 98 per cent of lakes have been encroached upon, 90 per cent carry untreated sewage and industrial effluents. Additionally, concrete coverage has surged 11-times, worsening the environmental crisis.

On February 28, critical Cauvery Basin reservoirs at Harangi, Hemavathi, Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS), and Kabini are at 39 per cent capacity, per the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre. With a total capacity of 114.57 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet, they presently store about 44.65 TMC, much lower than the 64.61 TMC recorded last year at this time.

Data from a minor irrigation department study for 2013-2023 revealed a worrying decline in groundwater levels in the five talukas that comprise urban Bengaluru. The most alarming drop was in Bengaluru South with it falling from 13.4m to 18.7m. North taluka also experienced a decline from 16.2m to 18.2m. In contrast, Bengaluru East, Yelahanka, and Anekal talukas observed moderate drops, emphasising a significant water level reduction of up to 4 metres.

Communities are grappling with soaring water prices, witnessing a drastic increase in the cost of a 1000-litre water tanker from Rs 600-Rs 800 to over Rs 2,000. This surge particularly affects the urban poor who don't access piped water and borewells, amplifying their water scarcity challenges. 

The inefficiency of the Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board (KWSSB) in water disbursal has compelled colonies to rely on borewells. This situation forces suburban housing colonies to push their borewells deeper to meet water demands.

Various opinions circulate on the imbalance in the distribution of Cauvery water, with accusations targeting the tanker mafia and politicians. Let's focus on the facts and underlying reasons to unravel the complexities.

Here's Why Bengaluru Is Running Dry 

Non-Implementation of Water Schemes: Governments often assert their commitment to resolving the city's water issues at the start of their tenure. Nevertheless, for Karnataka, the majority of proposed drinking water and sanitation schemes remain unrealised.

The BWSSB faces challenges in extending piped water to the outer zones of Bengaluru, notably areas such as Bellandur, Singasandra, Ramamurthy Nagar, Byatarayanapura, Jakkur, and Devarabisanahalli. These regions heavily rely on water tanker supply.

Depleting Reservoirs: Reservoirs like KRS and Kabini, vital water sources for Bengaluru, currently hold only 20 per cent of their live storage capacity. This leaves the state with just enough water for drinking needs, lasting only one season.

Overexploitation of Groundwater: With natural water bodies being encroached, the only source of water available in most parts is groundwater. The population is dependent on it for drinking, washing, and landscape management too. The available water is not reused enough and wasted in drains. Borewells are now dug as deep as 800-900 feet in search of water. Whereas, a couple of decades ago, it was common to find water at a depth of 150-200 feet.
 
Localised Distribution Network Problem: In the absence of the water utility services of the government, the population is left with no choice but to call for water tankers. The supply through tankers is unregulated and mismanaged in terms of sourcing, sanitisation, availability, and pricing.
 
Failed Monsoon: The world is undergoing a massive climate change. As is India, Karnataka and, of course, Bengaluru. The major impact of this change is failed monsoons. The city does not get enough rain to recharge its groundwater. The city has already almost exhausted its fossil water reserve. Now the dependency is on rainwater, which in itself is scarce.

Rampant Construction on Catchment Areas: This is not specific to Bengaluru. Haphazard construction, especially in water catchment areas, is a big contributor to this situation. What it does is, it blocks the natural hydrological network between lakes, streams and the reservoir thereby creating imbalances resulting in some water bodies and streams drying out. 

Collective Action: Urban expansion in Bengaluru disrupted the once-close relationship between lake-dependent communities and local water bodies. The city's shift to piped water from distant sources such as Hesaraghatta Lake and TG Halli Reservoir, starting in the 1890s, diminished reliance on lakes.

Rapid urbanisation, coupled with pollution from sewage and industrial runoff, as well as escalating land demands, contributed to the disappearance of most city lakes between 1885 and 2014.

Ecologist Harini Nagendra explains this beautifully in her article Lost lakes of Bengaluru: “The city depended instead on an interconnected system of tanks or lakes that harvested rainwater. As the landscape was gradually settled, these water bodies were progressively constructed, maintained, and managed by local communities and local rulers.

As in other parts of peninsular southern India, the locations of these lakes exploited the naturally undulating terrain such that excess monsoon water from lakes at a higher elevation overflowed into the lakes below. As lakes were rain-fed and mostly seasonal, they operated in tandem with open wells, providing water to the region’s many residents. Apart from being critical drinking water sources, lakes were also very important for the local economy.”

The Way Out

Critical scrutiny and reassessment of construction projects in greenfield and peripheral zones are imperative as Bengaluru experiences rapid growth. Ongoing and proposed developments encroaching upon lakes and smaller water bodies demand urgent attention.

A comprehensive review is necessary to identify potential adverse impacts on water bodies and hydrology. Immediate intervention, including a temporary halt on projects posing threats to water resources, is essential to safeguard Bengaluru's ecological balance.

Lakes and stormwater drains cannot be carriers and storage spaces for sewage and need to be separated. During rains, they contribute to increasing flooding and end up polluting the groundwater further. Separating these lines will help restore the natural hydrology of the lakes. 

The current lack of accountability in water use within large gated communities allows unchecked drilling of borewells, leading to excessive water extraction. In times of crisis, these communities are permitted to sell water, contributing to a dystopian situation. To address this issue, strict restrictions should be imposed on drilling, accompanied by the implementation of systematic drainage and water recharge systems. 

Additionally, during the design and layout of gated communities, it should be mandatory to allocate space for rainwater harvesting and recharge, discouraging excessive concrete coverage in the name of landscaping. Sustainable landscaping must be prioritised in urban development, particularly in the face of worsening water shortages.

While the notion of returning to the collective action models of the past seems challenging, it remains imperative to tackle the myriad challenges posed by the current water crisis. In this regard, fostering collaboration among the government, civil society, and citizens is of paramount importance. 

A concerted effort is needed to address not only behavioural aspects, encouraging responsible water usage, but also institutional aspects, ensuring the implementation of robust water management strategies. By combining the strengths of various stakeholders, one can work towards controlling and mitigating the impacts of the escalating water crisis in a comprehensive and sustainable manner.