Cauvery row: Bengaluru may soon have no water to drink
Synopsis
For Bengaluru's drinking water needs, the city mostly dependents on the water from the Cauvery river. In case there are no rains or there is deficit rainfall during December, the situation is bound to worsen by January
With the Supreme Court directing Karnataka to release the Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu, the IT city of Bengaluru is at strong risk for a severe water shortage.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has warned that Bengaluru may have to face acute water shortages if water sources did not get full (through rainfall) by December.
For Bengaluru's drinking water needs, the city mostly dependents on the water from the Cauvery river. According to the BWSSB, the water reserves in the KRS dam would last for only 80 days and thereafter, the government will have to make alternate arrangements for drinking water to the city.
In case there are no rains or there is deficit rainfall during December, the situation is bound to worsen by January, warned BWSSB officials.
Chief Engineer of BWSSB, Kemparamaiah said that the board had already written a letter requesting the government to take steps to ensure storing of at least 12 TMC of water till next summer. Only if the condition warrants, water might be released from Kabini, Hemavathi, and Harangi reservoirs.
How important is Cauvery for Bengaluru:
| Total water connections in the city now | 8 Lakh |
| Total submersible pumps (borewells) in the city | 2 lakh |
| Submersible pumps under control of BWSSB | 8000 |
| Amount of water is being supplied to city | 1400 MLD (Million Liters/Day) |
| Amount of water being utilised in the city | 1250 - MLD |