Emergency forces metropolis residents to seek alternatives

Residents of a neighbourhood in Bengaluru line up for receiving water. Photo provided by Coovercolly Indresh 

The worsening water crisis in Bengaluru is driving many of the approximately 14 million residents of India’s third-most populous city to explore various alternative solutions.

Those who can afford to relocate, are considering leaving Bengaluru. Potential homebuyers, on the other hand, are reconsidering their plans.

A resident of Uttarhalli in southern Bengaluru, who previously contemplated buying property in the area, now vows to avoid such an investment due to the water situation.

The crisis has disproportionately impacted renters who lack the option of relocating to a second home. A resident of a high-rise apartment complex shared their struggle to manage basic needs due to the lack of water. Despite paying a significant rent, the resident was unable to use the washroom due to the water outage.  

Residents like Rajani Srivastav, who relied on a borewell for over 15 years, now face acute shortages and community tensions over water distribution. These tensions highlight the severity of the crisis. 

Migrant techies’ plight

As the city grapples with what is being billed as the worst potable shortage in its history, tech professionals — many of whom have come from outside the city and state — are calling for a shift towards work-from-home (WFH) arrangements.

They believe this could significantly contribute to water conservation efforts. Techies argue that WFH would allow employees to relocate to their hometowns, easing the strain on the city’s water resources.

This comes as Bengaluru faces dry borewells and reliance on expensive water tankers even before the peak summer season arrives.  

Radha Krishna, a resident of Kengeri Upanagara and an employee at a multinational corporation in Global Village, both in the western part of the city, exemplifies the challenges faced by many.

Read Bengaluru water crisis: Is the southern metropolis heading towards Day Zero?

A severe water shortage in his apartment building forced him and his wife to temporarily relocate to his ancestral home in Mandya. Despite this move, they are still burdened with the monthly rent of their virtually unusable flat in the city.

Radha Krishna said though his native city is just 85 km from Bengaluru, other apartment residents are still battling for a living. He said his company obliged for WFH for a short period. But his friends employed in other companies have no WFH option.

“I planned to shift houses. But the flat owner was not ready to repay the advance. Most of the tenants in our apartment were planning to relocate,” he added.  

Deepak Raghav, another techie working for a multinational corporation (MNC) in Marathahalli, an eastern suburb of Bengaluru, told this reporter that he is a native of Kolkata and finds it difficult to migrate temporarily. He said he paid a hefty Rs 1,500 for 6,000 litres of water every week as the tube well in his rented house dried.  

Digant Bandopadhyay, a techie at an MNC in the upmarket eastern neighbourhood of Whitefield, emphasised the urgency of the situation.

“In a crisis like this, allowing employees to work remotely from their hometowns makes perfect sense. Continued office commutes during a water shortage will only add stress, potentially impacting productivity,” he said. Bandopadhyay questioned the point of working from an office when basic needs like bathing were a constant concern.

Mohan Kumar, another techie from Kadugodi near Whitefield, highlighted the viability of WFH solutions. “We’ve successfully transitioned to remote work during the pandemic without compromising productivity. Now, with established systems in place, the transition would be much smoother than before,” he pointed out.

Kumar acknowledged WFH as a temporary solution but emphasised its potential to alleviate the current water crisis.  

Residents holding a rally to create awareness about water in Begur. Photo provided by Coovercolly Indresh

Meanwhile, residents of the Noble Residency in Begur on the Bengaluru-Hosur Road organised a ‘walkathon’ on March 10 with the rallying cry “Stop misuse of water, save living water for future generations”.

The residents carried placards and chanted slogans on the streets along the Begur-Koppa Road and Begur Road to spread awareness about the critical importance of water management.

The event was organised under the umbrella of the Beautiful Begur Association, comprising residents’ groups from various neighborhoods. Participants of all ages, including women, senior citizens and children, actively participated in the campaign.

“We have initiated this campaign to raise awareness among citizens about the importance of judicious and responsible water usage,” remarked the participants of the walk.

Prakash, the leader of the Beautiful Begur Association, expressed scepticism about the government’s reliance on borewells to alleviate water shortages.

“Merely drilling borewells cannot address the underlying issue of declining groundwater levels,” he cautioned. “If the situation persists, it may compel citizens to take to the streets in protest,” he added.

The residents also stressed the need for heightened awareness regarding water reuse, rainwater harvesting and prudent consumption practices.

Shalini, representing the Hi Kalpa Education Institute, emphasised the importance of breaking habits of water waste and fostering a culture of water conservation.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shiva Kumar addressed the pressing issue of water scarcity in the state’s capital city on March 11, highlighting concerning statistics.

Of 16,000 borewells in the city, a staggering 7,000 are non-functional, he said. In response, concerted efforts are underway from various authorities, including Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and nodal authorities, to address this crisis and ensure access to water for all residents, he added.  

A dedicated board has been established to combat illegal practices such as unauthorised water tanker operations and price gouging. This board will diligently monitor tanker activities and take swift action against any illicit practices.

Moreover, efforts are being made to provide free water to slum areas, reflecting a commitment to equitable access to this vital resource.  

Shiva Kumar added that the trading of drinking water has been halted in Bengaluru, signaling a firm stance against exploitative practices. Notably, efforts to dismantle the water mafia in the city have been successful, ensuring that water distribution is fair and transparent for all residents, he added.