Bengaluru, 13 March

While the City grapples with the worsening water crisis, the person who is at the centre of it all is BWSSB Chairman V Ram Prasath Manohar. Vaishnavi Gopalraj of Salar News caught up with the officer on his plans to tackle Bengaluru’s water woes.

The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) chief has assured residents that the City's water supply is currently secure. With 1,450 MLD (millions of litre per day) of water sourced from Cauvery River and efforts underway to bridge the remaining gap of 600 MLD through borewells and treated water, he said the water supply will stabilise within a month. Besides, with Holi coming up on 25 March, the authorities will monitor Holi parties since they tend to use a lot of water.

Q: Residents in water crisis-hit areas such as Chamrajpet, Bhubaneswarnagar, Rajajinagar and Peenya are facing challenges due to the lack of awareness regarding water release timings and the inaccessibility of water tankers. Has any arrangement been made?

A: To alleviate the difficulties faced by residents in these areas, BWSSB will install 3,000-litre Sintex tanks and will refill them periodically. Residents can then take water from these tanks. This initiative has been implemented in areas such as Peenya and Goraguntepalya, with feedback being gathered to improve the plan. 

Q: How much is the shortfall of water in the City?

A: There is a current shortfall of 150-200 MLD in water supply due to decreasing groundwater levels. We are facing this huge challenge to fill up tanks and lakes with treated water to enhance the groundwater table. There is also the need to understand the importance of using treated water for non-drinking purposes and we urge residents for a behavioural shift in water usage. “BWSSB has collaborated with Indian Institute of Science to implement Filter Borewell technology wherein borewell water will be treated for drinking. "The overall shortage of 200 MLD caused by drying borewells can be addressed by utilising treated water, recharging groundwater and minimising water wastage," he added.

Q: How is BWSSB planning to address the water crisis affecting schools, colleges, hospitals and apartments?

A: Currently, our primary focus is on ensuring uninterrupted water supply to essential institutions such as schools, colleges and hospitals. There are no restrictions on water supply to these establishments at present. However, for bulk consumers, including those hosting parties such as Holi and water parks, we will strictly monitor their usage. Regarding apartments, we are conducting a study to determine the population in each complex. 

Q: With IPL matches set to draw nearly 40,000 attendees to Bengaluru amid the ongoing water crisis, what preparations are being made to accommodate the influx?

A: We have requested data from M Chinnaswamy Stadium regarding the water requirements for IPL matches. Our team is analysing this information to develop a plan that will accommodate the needs of the cricket fans and stadium while also mitigating any potential loss of water resources. 

Q: How much water does the City need in the next six months?

A: Water requirement for the next five months is estimated at 8,000 million cubic feet (TMC), and the City has an adequate water supply to meet these needs.

Q: Do you think we are staring at a drought-like situation?

A: The present situation is a natural calamity and not a result of any mismanagement. The crisis will not have any impact on Bengaluru's image.

Signing off, the BWSSB top boss said once the 5th phase of the Kaveri project is implemented from 15 May, the current situation will be much easier to tide over. -Salar News