The Aryavarth Express
Agency(Bengaluru): In Bengaluru, a city grappling with an escalating water crisis, a viable solution emerges through the implementation of rainwater harvesting. T V Ramachandra, coordinator of the energy and wetland research group at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, asserts that over 70% of the city’s water needs, estimated at 18 TMC (thousand million cubic feet), could be satisfied by adopting proper rainwater harvesting techniques.
This revelation was shared during a forum organized by the Karnataka Nela Jala Samrakshana Samithi and the Gandhi Smaraka Nidhi at Gandhi Bhavan, aiming to address the urgent issue of drinking water scarcity. Ramachandra championed rainwater harvesting and sewage treatment as both immediate and enduring solutions to avert future water crises.
According to Ramachandra, rainwater harvesting alone could yield up to 15 TMC of water. Moreover, Bengaluru generates approximately 18 TMC of wastewater annually, from which 16 TMC can be recovered post-treatment. This not only addresses the city’s water deficit but also offers an excess that can be utilized to replenish lakes and restore the groundwater table.
In his address, Ramachandra also touched upon the city’s drastic reduction in lake numbers—from 1,562 at its inception to merely 193 today—largely due to unchecked urban development. This loss has significantly contributed to the current water scarcity, emphasizing the need for sustainable water management practices.
The discussion also highlighted broader community involvement in water conservation efforts. Kurubur Shanthakumar, representing a coalition of farmers’ organizations, criticized political opposition to projects like Mekedatu, essential for addressing water shortages, and called for changes in agricultural practices to include wastewater treatment.
P C Rao, representing the Bruhat Bangalore Hotels Association, detailed initiatives to conserve drinking water in over 30,000 city hotels, serving around 50 lakh customers daily, by adopting more mindful serving practices. Wooday P Krishna and actor-politician Mukhyamantri Chandru emphasized educational efforts towards efficient water use and the necessity for the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to clarify the use of treated water among residents.