As summer arrives in Bengaluru, so does the city’s perennial water crisis, now escalating due to its unchecked growth. In his book 10 Rules of Successful Nations, economist Ruchir Sharma highlights the negative effects of wealth concentration in a single region, emphasizing that an imbalanced population ratio between a city and its second-largest counterpart can lead to systemic problems. This insight provides a vital clue to Bengaluru’s ongoing water shortage.
Bengaluru, which was once a serene city surrounded by tier-II cities like Mandya, Hassan, Mysuru, and Chikmagalur, has become a bustling IT hub attracting people and investment from around the world. However, while Bengaluru flourished, these nearby cities were neglected, leading to their stagnation. With access to the fertile Cauvery river and favorable climates, these cities have an advantage in managing water resources, unlike Bengaluru, which has relied on limited water sources from the Cauvery river.
From 1991 to 2021, Bengaluru’s population skyrocketed from 4.5 million to around 14 million, resulting in rapid urbanization and a corresponding rise in water demand. The city’s area expanded from 225 sq km to over 700 sq km, further exacerbating the pressure on its water infrastructure. In 2011, the city required 1,905 million liters per day (MLD) of water, but the supply was just 960 MLD. By 2021, demand had reached 2,820 MLD, with supply lagging at 1,460 MLD, creating a significant gap. Projections for 2026 indicate an even larger gap between supply and demand, with a projected requirement of 3,437 MLD and only 2,235 MLD available.
Bengaluru’s unchecked growth has led to a dangerous imbalance in its water supply system. The city continues to expand towards neighboring districts like Ramanagara, Tumakuru, and Kolar, but the resources to sustain this growth are not infinite. The Cauvery river, already under stress, cannot support endless extraction. Even attempts to source water from other distant rivers, such as the Krishna or Western Ghats, come with considerable risks.
The solution lies not in exploiting more water sources but in addressing the root cause of the crisis: Bengaluru’s excessive expansion and the concentration of wealth. Smaller, tier-II cities around Bengaluru—once overlooked—require urgent investment and development to address their own growing water demands. Shifting investment to these cities can help mitigate the pressure on Bengaluru, reversing the migration that has flooded the city and strained its resources.
Water conservation efforts like rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge are important but insufficient on their own. The key to resolving the crisis lies in managing Bengaluru’s growth and wealth distribution more sustainably. Until this reality is acknowledged and acted upon, Bengaluru’s water crisis will only worsen.
Ruchir Sharma’s warning about wealth imbalance is clear: unless the unchecked expansion of Bengaluru and the unequal distribution of resources are addressed, nature will set its own limits. Already, the city is witnessing an exodus of companies, driven primarily by the escalating water scarcity. The crisis this summer serves as a wake-up call—a reminder that without fundamental change, Bengaluru’s future will remain uncertain.
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