Bengaluru to Explore 40 Lakes as Future Drinking Water Sources Amid Crisis

In a bid to address Bengaluru’s ongoing water crisis, a Chief Secretary-led committee has identified 40 lakes within the city as potential future drinking water sources. The committee, led by the former Chief Secretary Rajneesh Goel, held its first meeting in April, where it discussed the urgent need to restore these lakes as sustainable sources of water. The meeting, which included key officials from various departments, stressed the importance of immediate action to divert sewage flow and restore the health of these water bodies.

The Need for Sustainable Water Sources

The committee’s discussions highlighted the dire need for sustainable water sources in Bengaluru. The city, grappling with a severe water crisis, lacks reliable and long-term water sources, pushing the administration to explore alternative options. The Environment Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) prepared a comprehensive report on the state of lakes in the Bengaluru metropolitan area, which served as the basis for the committee’s deliberations.

The report revealed that out of 844 lakes in the metropolitan area, a staggering 562 are under the jurisdiction of the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department, with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) managing 205, the minor irrigation department 45, the Forest Department 13, and the Water Resources Department 4. The condition of these lakes, however, is a cause for concern. Many are heavily contaminated with solid waste, sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and other pollutants. Encroachment on lake areas further exacerbates the problem, making restoration efforts more challenging.

Immediate Actions and Funding

During the meeting, Rajneesh Goel emphasised the responsibility of officials to conserve these lakes, particularly in light of the ongoing water crisis. He directed the immediate identification of 10 interconnecting lakes that could serve as an initial focus for restoration efforts. These lakes would be selected for their strategic importance and their potential to link with other water bodies in the city.

The committee discussed various funding sources for the restoration efforts, including BBMP’s Public Licensing Fund, BWSSB’s Mega City Revolving Fund, funds from the Revenue Department for encroachment removal, Zilla Panchayat funds, and the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) 2.0 scheme. These funds are expected to support immediate works such as diverting sewage flow and desilting operations.

BWSSB’s Proposal for 40 Lakes

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has taken a proactive approach by submitting a list of 40 lakes it seeks to manage as sources of drinking water. Among these, five lakes are earmarked for the installation of water treatment plants. However, the task ahead is daunting, as the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has reported that none of the lakes on BWSSB’s list currently meet the standards for drinking water quality.

Most of these lakes fall under water quality category ‘D’, which is suitable only for the propagation of wildlife and fisheries. Some, like Madiwala and Hosakerehalli, are in category ‘E’, suitable only for irrigation, industrial cooling, and controlled waste disposal. To make these lakes viable as drinking water sources, significant cleanup efforts, including desiltation and restoration of their ecosystems, will be required. This approach has already been initiated in larger lakes like Bellandur and Varthur, setting a precedent for similar actions across the city.

Reviving the Apex Committee
As part of the ongoing efforts to tackle the water crisis, the committee has decided to reactivate the ‘Apex Committee’, originally established by the Karnataka High Court in 2012. This committee, headed by the Revenue Department’s principal secretary, comprises representatives from all relevant departments and is tasked with overseeing the restoration of the city’s lakes.

Shalini Rajneesh, who recently took over as Chief Secretary, has pledged to follow up on the key decisions made by the committee. “We will conduct a meeting soon to get an update on the progress and ensure that all stakeholders are brought together to improve the condition of our lakes,” she said.

The initiative to explore and restore Bengaluru’s lakes as future drinking water sources marks a significant step towards addressing the city’s water crisis. However, the success of this endeavour will depend on the coordinated efforts of various departments, the availability of funds, and the effective implementation of restoration plans.