Water Crisis in Bangalore

We have already written about the bomb attack at the beginning of March. It hit Bangalore in the truest sense of the word, but ultimately only briefly disrupted the pulse of the city. 

Heat, dust and, above all, a lack of water are what is permanently affecting people - and to an increasingly drastic extent. It is the worst drought in 30 - 40 years, say government representatives.

The situation is particularly serious on the outskirts of the city. In some cases, residents only receive water for a few hours in the morning and evening. More and more are completely dependent on the countless tanker trucks that deliver water. However, the prices for these water deliveries have doubled in recent weeks.

It feels like the prices for normal water bottles have also increased, 5 liter canisters of drinking water are regularly sold out for us too.

When there is a shortage of water, the first thing you think of is drinking water or thirst. But it also means no toilet flushing, limited body hygiene, no washing-up water and it also has an impact on the economy. Costs for restaurants and hotels are rising, the textile industry around Bangalore is also said to be affected, not to mention the impact on agriculture. 

Our community is also showing the first signs - albeit (still) on a smaller scale:

The otherwise always green lawn is turning yellow, more dried leaves line the paths, the pool water is not renewed, anyone who washes their car too often has to pay a fine. These are small things, of course. But in theatrical terms, it is the first crack in an otherwise seemingly perfect facade.

For those who like it even more apocalyptic: The coronavirus pandemic may not be the only exceptional situation of our generation. After all, without water, people die. It's one thing to hear about global warming while you're walking through lush Bavarian countryside and drinking water is coming out of the tap.

Bangalore lets you experience what is being warned about also in Germany - garbage on the ground, air full of exhaust fumes and now also a lack of water at 35 Degrees Celsius every day. Apocalypse Bangalore? It feels a bit like that at the moment.

In general, Bangalore gets most of its water from the Cauvery River. The areas that do not have access to Cauvery water connections rely on bore wells for groundwater or tanker deliveries.

Too little rainfall during the monsoon season in 2023 and very high temperatures earlier than usual this year have dramatically lowered both the level of the Cauvery River and the groundwater table in Bangalore.

Indian media has also criticized water loss due to old pipes and corruption on the part of water tanker providers. Because of this "water mafia" those who pay more get water that is actually intended for poorer parts of the city.

And finally, the sheer size of the population and the constant unstructured growth of the city certainly contribute to the problem: Bangalore had 5.5 million inhabitants in 2000, 8.2 million in 2010 and now there are 14 million!

The past and future suggest that an improvement of the situation is not in sight for the time being. There was already a water crisis in 2016, which led to a partial state of emergency in Bangalore. The issue is therefore anything but new.

The Kanataka government is currently trying to alleviate the problem temporarily by taking over private tankers and the planned conversion of milk tankers, among other things. The demand is enormous: the city receives around 1.4 million liters of water per day from the Cauvery River. The people of Bangalore have to obtain a further 1.6 million liters a day from other sources.

The first rains are expected end of April earliest, the actual monsoon season normally does not begin until June.

India has many challenges. Especially in the big cities, there is little sign of nature and environmental protection. At the same time, the country is full of kind-hearted people and spectacular landscapes.

So follow us from the "Bangalore apocalypse" to Manali in the Himalayas and enjoy the cool, clean mountain air.