City headed for severe water crisis, says DyCM

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday warned that Bengaluru is headed for severe drinking water crises in the near future.

Speaking at the Janaspandana, a civic grievance redressal event organised by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Parameshwara said there is no further plans to assure water supply to the constantly expanding city beyond the fifth stage of the Cauvery Water Supply Scheme.

"The city is growing rapidly and may face water crises in the future," Parameshwara, also the Bengaluru Development Minister said. "We have to find a solution soon. People should start saving water to solve future crises," he added.

The Cauvery Water Supply Scheme aims to build a comprehensive water and sewerage network to treat 775 mld of raw Cauvery water at a new plant, to be set up in Thorekadanahalli and pumped to the Harohalli and Tataguni pumping stations. From there, water would be supplied to the city.

Water supply will be split to the west and east side. It would include the 110 villages added to the BBMP limits in 2007.

"I am conducting a meeting with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board officials to work out a solution for the water scarcity," Parameshwara said. "Under the Yettinahole drinking water project, Bengaluru will get only 2.5 TMC of water. We will, therefore, take up the project, worth Rs 280 crore, to revive the Thippagondanahalli reservoir and ensure supply to the city soon," he said.