Due to severe water shortage plaguing Bangalore, the capital city of Karnataka and India’s tech hub, residents are facing daily cuts and some areas receive water only on alternate days. This crisis has prompted the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to announce a protest at Freedom Park on March 11, aiming to draw attention to the water woes and hold the ruling Congress government accountable.
Leader of the opposition R Ashoka has alleged that government inefficiency has exacerbated the situation, leading to concerns that multinational companies may consider relocating from the city. The BJP’s protest at Freedom Park is intended to highlight these issues and press for immediate action from the authorities.
The crisis has sparked a political blame game, with the BJP accusing the Congress government of mismanagement. R Ashoka criticized the government for failing to prioritize real issues and accused them of attempting to divert attention from critical matters. He highlighted the plight of many apartments in the city that lack sufficient drinking water and warned of potential economic consequences if the situation persists.
In response to these allegations, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) chairman Ram Prasath Manohar attributed the water shortage to drought conditions. He explained that Bangalore receives only 1,450 million liters per day (MLD) of water, falling short of the city’s daily requirement of 2,100 MLD.
Following a meeting with BWSSB officials, Tejasvi Surya, a BJP leader, expressed dissatisfaction with the response to the water crisis. He warned that if the issue is not resolved within a week, the Karnataka BJP would escalate its protest by demonstrating at Vidhana Soudha, the state’s legislative assembly.
Ram Prasath Manohar elaborated on the water situation, emphasizing the need to clarify the facts to Bengaluru’s residents and the global community. He outlined the city’s population and its water consumption requirements, highlighting the sources of water and the current supply from the Cauvery River.
In response to the crisis, Tejasvi Surya offered several suggestions to address the issue effectively. He emphasized the importance of providing treated water for non-potable usage in industries and construction sectors and advocated for redistributing drinking water to areas facing stress. Additionally, he proposed diverting treated water towards lake recharging and consulting geologists to identify suitable locations for new borewells.
Furthermore, Surya recommended a proactive approach to redrilling existing borewells and efficiently managing water tanker distribution to avoid disruptions. He also urged for the completion of the Cauvery Stage-5 project to enhance water availability in the proposed regions.
The water crisis in Bangalore underscores the urgent need for effective management and sustainable solutions to ensure access to clean and reliable water for all residents. As political parties engage in protests and debates in Freedom Park, it is essential for the government to prioritize infrastructure development and water management strategies to mitigate the impact of drought and meet the city’s growing water demands.
