'Implementing RWH can solve City's water woes'

The BWSSB should implement Rainwater Harvesting in the City at the earliest, said Swati Dandekar, a documentary filmmaker.

Addressing a gathering at the Raman Research Centre after the screening of her highly acclaimed documentary ‘Water and a City,’ on Thursday, the filmmaker expressed surprise that the City residents seemed unaware of RWH, despite it being made mandatory.

“Though the deadline for the implementation of the RWH has been extended a number of times in the past, the residents are still confused about installing it,” she said. The 50-minute documentary goes through the history of water supply in Bangalore to pollution of water bodies and the depletion of groundwater table. 

The need of the hour is a River Basin Authority. The BWSSB has more bureaucrats than scientists, researchers and experts. The Board’s focus on Cauvery River alone to meet the water needs is flawed, as once the river dries up, the water crisis will only aggravate, said Swati.

“Bangalore used to meet its water needs through the numerous water bodies that dotted it. Today, lakes such as Bellandur and Hebbal have turned poisonous. If the authorities concerned do not understand the importance of reviving groundwater and rainwater harvesting, they will be forced to look towards River Krishna, with the drying up of River Cauvery,” she added.