Karnataka is facing a severe water scarcity crisis, with Bengaluru bearing the brunt of the shortage. Both Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar have openly acknowledged the dire situation, revealing that even their borewells in the city have dried up.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated, “Out of the state’s 236 talukas, 223 are currently grappling with drought conditions, with 219 severely affected.”
Even before the onset of the scorching summer days, Bengaluru is already grappling with acute water scarcity. The Congress-led government in Karnataka is taking urgent measures to tackle the debilitating water crisis in the city.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar disclosed that more than 3,000 borewells in Bengaluru have dried up, including the one at his residence. He emphasized the severity of the situation, attributing it to the depletion of groundwater levels caused by insufficient rainfall and a prolonged dry spell last year.
As the water crisis in Bengaluru escalates, residential welfare associations (RWAs) are implementing stringent measures to conserve water. Restrictions such as water rationing and bans on activities like car washing and swimming pool usage have been introduced to combat the shortage.
In a bid to further conserve water, a residential enclave in south Bengaluru has proposed the use of disposable plates, cutlery, and wet wipes for hygiene purposes.
The severity of the situation is exacerbated by the depletion of wells, particularly in the outskirts of Bengaluru. These areas, comprising 110 villages newly added to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Pallike, are yet to receive Cauvery water. The impact of the water scarcity is particularly acute in residential apartment complexes located in areas like Whitefield and Electronic City, which are adjacent to these tech corridors.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has appealed to residents to use water judiciously as Bengaluru faces severe water scarcity. Instructing civic officials to identify available water sources and distribute them to areas experiencing acute shortages, Shivakumar emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring water supply to affected areas while preventing harassment.
Speaking on the government’s measures, Shivakumar stated, “I am looking into this very, very, very seriously. We are taking over all the tanks and identifying points where water is available.” He highlighted the dire situation, citing the drying up of over 3,000 borewells in Bengaluru and the importance of initiatives like the Mekedatu project to address water challenges.
The proposed Mekedatu project, a balancing reservoir in the Cauvery basin in Karnataka, has been presented as a solution to the water-sharing dispute with neighboring states, particularly Tamil Nadu. Shivakumar expressed hope for support from the Union Government to resolve the issue and alleviate the water crisis in the region.
In response to the severe water scarcity plaguing Whitefield, one Residential Welfare Association (RWA) has issued a stern warning to residents: failure to reduce water consumption by 20 per cent will result in an additional charge of Rs. 5,000. This move comes as residents grapple with skyrocketing prices of water tankers, which are capitalising on the scarcity situation. Previously available at Rs. 500, a 5,000-litre water tanker now commands a price tag of Rs. 2,000.
Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar’s recent ultimatum to water tanker owners adds another dimension to the issue. On March 4, Shivakumar cautioned that tankers failing to register with authorities by the March 7 deadline risked seizure. He revealed that out of the 3,500 water tankers operating in Bengaluru, only 10% had complied with registration requirements thus far.
However, critics fear that such stringent measures may have political ramifications, particularly with Lok Sabha elections looming. With the worsening water crisis coinciding with the onset of scorching summer days, the ruling government could face heightened scrutiny from the electorate.
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