Water-stressed silicon valley of India: Bangalore faces insolvency

Image Credits - NDTV

The technological epicentre of Bengaluru in India is facing challenges due to water scarcity amidst a drought, and the situation is anticipated to worsen with the arrival of the summer season.

In response to a drought that has depleted thousands of borewells due to insufficient rainfall, authorities are providing water to the city’s 13 million I (1.3 Crores) inhabitants through tankers. To avoid overcharging, the Karnataka government has set a limit on the prices that tanker suppliers can charge.

Bengaluru hosts India’s IT services sector, valued at $194 billion. The city, like others in India, faces periodic water scarcity issues stemming from excessive groundwater utilization and climate change, which alters weather patterns and decreases vital rainfall. As summer nears, the challenge may intensify, with temperatures potentially soaring up to 40°C (104°F), further aggravating the water shortage.

Ram Manohar, the chairman of the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board, advised residents in an earlier statement this month on a news channel to exercise extreme caution in their water use, limiting it strictly to essential needs.

According to the Associated Press, which references official sources, approximately one-third of the city’s population relies on groundwater. It’s reported that some of the 13,900 borewells in the city have reached depths of up to 1,500 feet.

Last week, Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar mentioned that approximately 7,000 borewells have run dry. However, he assured that alternative measures are being taken by the authorities, stating that there is no crisis.

Political strains have escalated due to a conflict between the Congress and BJP regarding water scarcity.

The BJP criticizes the Karnataka government for allegedly rerouting Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, further worsening the water shortage in the state. On the other hand, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has denied these allegations, highlighting the scarcity of water that makes such a diversion impossible.

Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar condemned the BJP for turning the water shortage into a political issue. He stated that Bengaluru is not experiencing a water crisis and emphasized that the government’s main focus is on meeting its legal responsibilities to supply water to Tamil Nadu.

As the city grapples with the current water shortage, numerous IT professionals have opted to work remotely.

As Bengaluru experiences rising temperatures and its lakes begin to dry up, there has been a notable increase in incidents of birds collapsing from the sky. Additionally, sightings of snakes, including cobras, Russell’s vipers, rat snakes, and wolf snakes, have become more frequent, according to a report by the New Indian Express.

Prasanna Kumar, the BBMP wildlife warden, noted a significant rise in rescue call volumes this summer compared to previous years. The department has been receiving at least 100 calls daily over the last two weeks, a sharp increase from the previous average of 45 calls, as reported by the media outlet.

Black kites, known for soaring in the sky to locate food, are collapsing due to dehydration. Similarly, smaller birds such as bulbuls and mynas, along with carnivorous birds like crows, are also succumbing. Kumar noted that a significant number of distress calls are originating from the RR Nagar Zone, Yelahanka, and Dasarahalli Zone.

Mr Kumar also mentioned that there has been a rise in reports of snakes being seen in gardens and kitchen spaces.

The current water shortage in Bengaluru underscores the necessity for sustainable water use practices and the importance of joint efforts to address the problem.

Tankerwala, an app for booking water tanker suppliers, has highlighted eight reasons behind the water scarcity in Bangalore and proposed solutions to address the issue.

1. There’s a shortfall in comprehensive water utility services across the city: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has yet to extend water pipelines to the city’s outskirts. Areas such as Bellandur, Singasandra, Ramamurthy Nagar, Byatarayanapura, Jakkur, and Devarabisanahalli are among the most impacted. Consequently, these regions rely heavily on water supplied by tankers.

2. Failure to execute government-initiated water projects.: Every new government pledges to address the city’s water issues at the start of its tenure. Nonetheless, the majority of the initiatives related to drinking water and sanitation fail to be fully implemented and realized.

3. Significant reliance on rainwater: The primary water sources for Bangalore, including the Krishnaraj Sagar (KRS) and Kabini reservoirs, along with other dams in the state, are at around 20% of their full capacity. Under these circumstances, the state possesses barely enough drinking water to suffice for a single season.

4. Invasion of natural water bodies: Bangalore’s transformation into a concrete metropolis is occurring at the expense of its picturesque lakes and tanks. The city’s natural beauty is being compromised as development encroaches upon these essential water resources.

5 . Excessive use of groundwater: As natural water bodies are being overtaken, groundwater has become the primary water source for many parts of the city. Residents rely on it for drinking, cleaning, and managing landscapes. However, there is insufficient recycling of available water, leading to its wastage in drains.

6. Declining water levels in borewells; In the quest for water, borewells are currently being excavated to deptauthor a minimum of 900 feet, a stark contrast to a few decades ago when water was commonly found at depths of 150-200 feet.

7. Issues with the local distribution network: Without government water utility services, residents are forced to rely on tanker water. This tanker-supplied water suffers from a lack of regulation and poor management, with the entire process, including sourcing, sanitization, availability, and pricing, being uncontrolled.

8. Monsoon Failure: The globe is experiencing significant climate shifts, affecting India, Karnataka, and notably Bangalore. A primary consequence of these changes is the failure of monsoons, resulting in insufficient rainfall for recharging groundwater supplies. The city is nearing the depletion of its historic water reserves, increasingly relying on the scarce rainwater.

On a larger scale, community groups and organizations can adopt several measures to minimize water wastage and encourage the replenishment of groundwater resources.

a.Transition from traditional to micro-irrigation methods: The agricultural sector accounts for approximately 80% of freshwater usage. There is a pressing need for farmers to move away from the outdated method of flood irrigation to the more water-efficient technique of drip irrigation. Notably, drip irrigation boasts up to 95% efficiency in water usage, in stark contrast to the 40% efficiency achieved by flood irrigation. The excessive water loss in flood irrigation not only results in wastage but also leads to significant soil erosion and nutrient depletion.

b.Recycling sewage water: While legislation requires residential complexes to implement sewage treatment plants, the real issue lies in how many actually comply and utilize these systems effectively. In Bangalore, a typical family consumes roughly 150 litres of water daily just for flushing toilets. Consider the benefits of recycling this water for reuse in toilet flushing. By doing so, each household could conserve about 4,500 litres of water through just one cycle of reuse. This reclaimed water could also be repurposed for outdoor cleaning and gardening activities.

c.Restoring tanks and lakes with purified sewage water is essential: It’s crucial to halt the conversion of water bodies into urban structures and to recover and rehabilitate those already compromised. Beyond directing rainwater into these areas, utilizing properly treated sewage water to replenish them is a practical strategy.

Did you know that a single drop of water has the potential to be utilized up to five times? Indeed, this is a fact.

As communities and governments work on establishing water infrastructure to address shortages, there’s a role for individuals too. It’s important to recognize that this effort is as much a personal responsibility as it is a collective one. Here are several suggestions for reducing water waste at home:

i. Conserve water during showers: Often, as we wait for hot water to emerge, a significant amount of water is wasted. By placing a bucket in the shower, this water can be captured. Additionally, positioning a bucket to collect water while showering can prevent excessive wastage. This saved water can then be utilised for flushing toilets and cleaning the bathroom.

ii. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth: Many people tend to leave the water running during this routine. By shutting off the tap when it’s not directly needed, and using a cup for rinsing, additional litres of water can be conserved daily.

iii. Recycle water from partially used drinking bottles: Often, when outside, we purchase bottled water but don’t consume it entirely, discarding the remaining water or pouring it away. This habit extends to the bottles we use at home. Rather than wasting this water, it could be repurposed for watering household plants.

iv. Reuse water from water purifiers. Given the heavy application of pesticides and preservatives on grains, fruits, and vegetables, it’s essential to wash them thoroughly before consumption, a practice many adhere to. However, rather than letting this rinse water go to waste down the drains, it could be utilized for watering plants or cleaning toilets.

V. Address leaks immediately ;

Finally, it’s crucial to repair any dripping taps without delay. A faucet that leaks can waste more than 500 litres of water as you postpone the fix until the next weekend.

In conclusion:

It’s our responsibility as individuals to conserve and safeguard this vital natural resource. As we contribute our efforts, others are also working hard to improve our lives.

Views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not reflect the editorial stance of Business Upturn.

(The author Girish Linganna of this article is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also the Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach out to him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com)

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