In light of Bengaluru’s acute water scarcity, examine the key factors contributing to the urban water crisis and suggest actionable measures to ensure water security in urban settings.

Why?

In recent times, the water crisis in India has become very critical, affecting millions of people across India.

Approach:

• Introduce with the urban water crisis posing a significant threat to sustainable development in India, epitomized by Bengaluru’s acute water scarcity.
• In the main body, address key factors like rapid urbanization, groundwater overexploitation, pollution, inefficient management, etc. Next discuss the measures to ensure water security like
• integrated water management, pricing reforms, conservation efforts, sustainable groundwater practices, climate-resilient planning, etc.
• Conclude by highlighting the imperative for immediate action to ensure water security for India’s urban areas.

Answer:

The urban water crisis has emerged as a critical challenge for sustainable development in India. Despite receiving an average annual rainfall of about 970 mm, Bengaluru, India’s IT hub, epitomizes this crisis, grappling with acute water scarcity. The city’s dependency on the Cauvery River, further accentuates its vulnerability to water scarcity.

Key Factors Contributing to the Urban Water Crisis:

• Rapid Urbanization and Population Growth: Bengaluru’s population surged from 8.7 million in 2011 to an estimated 12.6 million in 2021, intensifying water demand. This rapid growth, particularly on the city’s periphery, has outpaced the development of water infrastructure, leading to increased reliance on groundwater and water tankers.
  • Bengaluru’s built-up area has expanded by 925% over the past few decades.
• Overexploitation of Groundwater: Excessive and unregulated extraction of groundwater to meet the growing urban demand has led to a drastic decline in groundwater levels.
  • Reports indicate a 70% decline in groundwater levels in Bengaluru over the past two decades.
• Pollution and Loss of Water Bodies: Urban sprawl has led to the encroachment of water bodies and pollution of lakes, reducing their capacity to recharge groundwater and serve as water sources.
  • Bellandur and Varthur lakes in Bengaluru are infamous for high levels of pollution.
• Inefficient Water Management and Distribution Systems: Ageing infrastructure, leakages, and unaccounted water loss contribute significantly to water scarcity.
  • Bengaluru’s distribution network loses over 35% of its water.
• Climate Change: has led to unpredictable rainfall patterns, affecting water availability.
  • Bengaluru’s water supply from the Cauvery River and groundwater reserves was severely affected by insufficient rainfall.
• Policy and Regulatory Gaps: Inadequate planning, poor policy implementation, and absence of strict regulations on groundwater extraction and inadequate pricing mechanisms encourage wasteful water use.
• Lack of Water Conservation Practices: both at the governmental and community levels.
  • Rainwater harvesting, despite being mandatory in Bengaluru, sees limited adoption and enforcement.

Measures to Ensure Water Security in Urban Settings:

• Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM): Adopting IWRM approaches to ensure coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources.
  • Creating a unified water management authority for holistic planning and implementation.
• Urban Water Pricing Reforms: Introducing fair pricing for urban water use to encourage conservation and recover the costs of water infrastructure and maintenance.
  • Implement tiered water pricing to discourage excessive use.
• Enhancing Water Conservation and Efficiency: Promoting water-saving technologies, leak detection, and repair in the urban water distribution network.
  • Incentivize the adoption of low-flow fixtures and appliances in households and industries.
• Sustainable Groundwater Management: Implementing regulations on groundwater extraction and promoting artificial recharge methods.
  • Construction of recharge wells and rain gardens.
• Reviving and Protecting Water Bodies: Undertaking projects to clean, rejuvenate, and maintain urban lakes and rivers as sustainable water sources.
  • Successful rejuvenation of the Jakkur Lake in Bengaluru.
• Effective Wastewater Management and Reuse: Establishing modern wastewater treatment plants and promoting the reuse of treated water for non-potable purposes.
  • Bengaluru’s initiative to treat and reuse wastewater for gardening, flushing, and industrial cooling.
• Climate-Resilient Urban Planning: to ensure sustainable water supply amidst changing rainfall patterns.
  • Bengaluru’s plan to develop green belts and blue networks.
• Public Participation and Awareness: Encouraging community involvement in water conservation practices and awareness programs.
  • Initiatives like ‘Million Wells for Bengaluru’.

The water crisis in Bengaluru and other urban areas of India is a complex challenge that requires immediate and sustained action. The urgency of this situation calls for bold and innovative solutions that ensure water security for all urban residents.

‘+1’ Value Addition:

• According to the ‘United Nations World Water Development Report 2023, India is expected to be the most severely affected as the global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to increase from 933 million in 2016 to 1.7-2.4 billion people in 2050.
• The 2030 Water Resources Group projected in 2009 that by 2030, available water will only meet about half of India’s demand if current consumption patterns continue.
• The Niti Aayog has projected that the groundwater of 21 cities will run out by 2020 and the cities include Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai and Hyderabad.