Facing worsening water scarcity in several neighbourhoods, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has reported a sharp rise in demand for its ‘Sanchari Cauvery’ tanker service.
The initiative, launched to reduce dependence on private tanker operators, is now becoming a major support system for thousands of households and commercial users across the city.
Tanker demand rises sharply
Officials said demand for tanker supply has increased by 20 to 25 per cent in recent weeks as borewells continue to run dry.
Data from the board shows that in the first three months of 2026 alone, 15,731 tanker orders were fulfilled, generating ₹1.7 crore in revenue. This is significantly higher than the 11,681 orders and ₹1.2 crore recorded during October to December 2025.
In just the last two months till April 8, the board earned nearly ₹1.2 crore through tanker services.
Apartments and industries hit hard
Apartments and industrial units are among the worst affected by falling groundwater levels. Of the total tanker orders fulfilled this year, 5,819 were bulk requests from these sectors, contributing ₹70.9 lakh in revenue.
Officials said this reflects the increasing struggle of even large establishments to secure dependable water supply.
Groundwater stress worsens
According to officials, Bengaluru extracts nearly 308.4 million cubic metres of groundwater annually and has now been categorised among cities facing excessive groundwater exploitation.
A study by Indian Institute of Science has also reportedly flagged declining groundwater levels in at least 65 wards.
More tankers deployed
Ram Prasath Manohar said more than 220 tankers and over 90 filling stations have been deployed to meet summer demand.
He added that efforts are also underway to improve recharge systems and distribution efficiency to reduce long-term dependence on tankers.
The situation underlines Bengaluru’s urgent need for sustainable water management as summer pressures intensify