The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Bengaluru): Bengaluru, India’s tech hub, is grappling with an acute water crisis, prompting its citizens to employ a range of innovative strategies to conserve water. The shortage, especially severe in areas like Whitefield, KR Puram, and Electronic City, has led to residents exploring work-from-home options, relocating for better water availability, and even bathing every other day to manage their water consumption.
High-rise apartments, despite having water harvesting systems, now rely on water tankers, and eateries consider using disposable utensils to minimize water usage. Educational institutions are also feeling the impact, with some opting for online classes reminiscent of the COVID-19 pandemic’s height to conserve water.
Citizens, feeling the pinch of elevated tanker water rates, are making difficult choices, including limiting household water use and adopting water-saving measures like using paper plates and reducing laundry frequency. The cause of the crisis is attributed to last year’s rain deficit, affecting rainwater harvesting efforts and forcing apartment complexes to ration water.
Professionals like Lakshmi V, an IT worker from Singasandra, contemplate work from home to relocate temporarily to water-abundant areas, illustrating the crisis’s impact on daily life and work. In response, community efforts to raise awareness about water conservation are underway, with schools and building associations initiating discussions on climate change and water conservation.
Residents in the hardest-hit areas are considering moving to locations with reliable water supplies, despite potential increases in living costs. Some city malls have even offered their facilities to employees from water-stressed areas as a temporary solution.
In a bid to address the crisis, the government and civic bodies, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science, are undertaking measures like replenishing city lakes with treated water and installing innovative water treatment plants to bolster groundwater sources and ensure sustainable water supply. These initiatives aim to introduce an additional 20-30 million liters of water daily into the system, offering hope amidst the challenging circumstances.
As Bengaluru confronts this pressing challenge, the community’s resilience and adaptability, coupled with targeted governmental actions, underscore the critical importance of sustainable water management practices in ensuring the city’s future well-being.