Bangalore, known as the Silicon Valley of India because of its booming tech industry; is facing a big problem that it can’t solve with technology: a serious lack of water. People living there have had to change how they live because there isn’t enough water. For example, they only take a bath about five times a month and order food online instead of cooking to save water. Even though Bangalore is a high-tech city, it’s struggling with this water crisis because of fast city growth, old water systems, and changes in the weather.
Because of the water shortage, schools and companies are asking people to work from home again. People are even using bathrooms and showers in malls or joining gyms just to use the water there. Now, saving money for water has become as important as saving money for other essentials. The problem is so bad that even the Chief Minister’s house doesn’t have enough water.
The government of Karnataka is taking this seriously and has decided to spend 556 crores to help solve the water problem. They are also fining people 5000 rupees if they waste water, showing how important it is to save water right now.
Problem Behind This
Bangalore, home to 1.4 crore people, requires a staggering 260 crore liters of water daily to meet its various needs. The primary reason behind the water crisis in the city is its rapid development. Positioned above sea level, Bangalore relies heavily on the Kaveri River as its main water source. Historically, the city was dotted with numerous lakes, facilitating underground water storage.
However, urbanization has led to the conversion of these vital water bodies for construction projects: for instance, the area once occupied by Sule Lake now hosts a football stadium, Sampangi Lake has been transformed into a sports complex, and the Dharmabuddi Lake site is now a bus stand. Many lakes have either been repurposed by the government or encroached upon, severely limiting the city’s ability to harvest rainwater. As a result, instead of being stored underground, rainwater is now lost to runoff, exacerbating the scarcity.