India’s third-most populous city is facing the worst potable water crisis in its nearly 500-year history. Bengaluru city officials have identified a total of 257 areas across 4 zones in the city that have been majorly bearing the brunt of the water crisis. Over 30 localities under the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are already receiving water on a rotational basis every alternate day and the situation might get worse as the next monsoon is still 100 days away. This is the real crisis of our water planning—the inability to understand the need and the opportunity for change. The fact is, Bengaluru receives enough rain; it has lakes that can harvest this rain and recharge groundwater, so that in times of extreme rain events, its rich and powerful denizens do not have to swim to avoid drowning in the flood.
This is Bengaluru’s story today and your city’s story tomorrow.