Bengaluru Residents Grapple With Drinking Water Shortage Amid Drought Crisis

Amidst the current water scarcity in Bengaluru, known as the silicon city of India, numerous residents were observed lining up outside the RO water plant with empty cans, hoping to secure their essential water supply.

The struggle for potable water persists among the city’s residents due to the depletion of groundwater and the drying up of over 3,000 borewells in Karnataka’s capital.

Facing strict measures enforced by the Karnataka government in response to the state’s water shortage, many Bengaluru residents have turned to the RO water plant for their water needs.

“We’ve been experiencing difficulties for the past few days. Our reliance is solely on the RO plant,” mentioned a Bengaluru resident.

Another local expressed concerns about irregular water supply, stating, “We receive inadequate water, requiring multiple visits to check availability. Kaveri water is supplied only once or twice weekly. With the absence of rain and low levels in the Kaveri River, underground water sources are depleted.”

Simultaneously, numerous IT professionals have opted to work remotely from home amidst the city’s ongoing water crisis. “Working from home would be beneficial as it conserves water, saves time, and is more convenient,” noted Amogh, an IT employee.

Echoing this sentiment, Varsha, another IT worker, added, “More water is consumed when employees commute to offices. Opting for remote work is preferable. Unexpectedly, WFH is due to water scarcity.”

These challenges faced by the public underscore the urgent need for robust water management strategies to alleviate the impact of Bengaluru’s ongoing water crisis.

Political parties like the Congress and BJP have engaged in a continuous dispute over Karnataka’s water shortage. The BJP has accused the Karnataka government of diverting Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, exacerbating the state’s water crisis.

However, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah dismissed these accusations as baseless. “The BJP’s claim of water diversion to Tamil Nadu is false. We can only release water if we have enough. Even if Tamil Nadu or the Center requests water release, we will not comply without sufficient reserves,” he asserted.

In response, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar criticized the BJP for politicizing the water crisis. “There is no water scarcity in Bengaluru; the BJP is fabricating the crisis. Our priority is to provide water to Bengaluru, fulfilling our legal obligations towards Tamil Nadu,” he emphasized.