India: unprecedented water crisis in Bangalore

2024-03-10T13:47:40.636Z

Highlights: Following a monsoon deficit, the water tables of Bangalore, this large southern city, are depleted and all residents face water shortages. Experts point to the uncontrolled development model of the “Indian Silicon Valley’, today on the brink of the abyss. Half of the wells are said to be exhausted. The price of these water tanks has increased from 10 to 20, even 30 euros in the city. There were 280 lakes which were the pride of Bangalore in the 20th century. There are barely more than ten left.

Following a monsoon deficit, the water tables of Bangalore, this large southern city, are depleted and all residents face water shortages. Experts point to the development model…

India: unprecedented water crisis in Bangalore

Following a monsoon deficit, the water tables of Bangalore, this large southern city, are depleted and all residents face water shortages.

Experts point to the uncontrolled development model of the “Indian Silicon Valley”, today on the brink of the abyss.

Renovation of a canal in Bangalore, India, January 2022 (illustrative image).

By: RFI Follow

With our correspondent in India,

Côme Bastin

The Whitefield district is home to large IT parks and a wealthy population.

However, it was in his residences with swimming pools, recently built, that the

water

crisis struck first.

Prasad, a resident, worries: “

The wells we depend on are completely dry.
We are 100% dependent on private tank trucks which resell water pumped further afield.
There are 230 apartments here, we need 120,000 liters of water per day.

Half of the wells exhausted

The price of these water tanks has increased from 10 to 20, even 30 euros in the city, while more than half of the wells are said to be exhausted.

Everyone must therefore change their habits, like this other resident who washes his car without water: “

This is an unprecedented crisis for us.
The trustee has just informed us that from now on the water will be cut off from 10 a.m. until the evening.

40% less rain

This year southern India

received

, in places, 40% less rain.

Zibi Jamal, from the NGO Whitefield Rising, also blames the unplanned growth of Bangalore: “

We concreted the floors without building enough drainage, channeling and water recovery systems.
Result: everyone turns to private suppliers or digs their own wells to supply themselves

.”

There were 280 lakes which were the pride of Bangalore in the 20th century.

There are barely more than ten left.

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India: unprecedented water crisis in Bangalore

India: unprecedented water crisis in Bangalore

Half of the wells exhausted

40% less rain

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