Bengaluru won’t face any water crisis till 2030, says George
Dismissing reports that the city will be the second metropolis to go dry after Cape Town in South Africa, Bengaluru Development Minister K J George has insisted there will be no water crisis at least until 2030.
"Bengaluru will not face any water crisis. Even in the summer, there will be no problem of drinking water," he said, reacting to a BBC News report entitled ’The 11 cities most likely to run out of drinking water’. Bengaluru is featured second.
The minister said the BBC had not approached the state government for information. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) would have given the "real picture" had it done so, he added.
According to George, by 2023, Bengaluru will get an additional 775 mld (million litres of water per day) from the 10 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) allocation from the Cauvery River. The Yettinahole project will provide another 193 mld by 2021, increasing the total supply to 2,368 mld by 2023. This apart, the government is also considering drawing water from the Linganamakki dam across the Sharavathi River. Setting up desalination plants is another option.
BWSSB chairman Tushar Girinath said that even if Bengaluru’s population grew to 20 million (two crores), the board’s many projects would help it supply water until 2031. The freshwater supply per person will be around 88 litres per day with a water loss of 25%.
The BWSSB has reduced the leakage percentage from 49% to 39% and intends to bring down the percentage of water loss to 25% in the near future. The board is also keeping tabs on other sources of water by imposing penalties for non-installation of rainwater harvesting structures and sewage treatment plants.
The board, however, will not draw water from the Thippgondanahalli reservoir to the city as continuous supply is not guaranteed. The water will be treated and released downstream towards Magadi, he added.
On Bellandur fire
George said the fire on Bellandur Lake was caused by grass, not by the presence of methane as mentioned by T V Ramachandra, a member of the lake expert committee. He said the government hadn’t authorised an individual to speak to the media. Any statement should be given only by the committee.
He went on to state that the government was planning to remove the grass around the lake area to avoid future fires.
QUOTES
T V Ramachandra, member, lake expert committee: The report on Bellandur Lake was submitted to the government a year ago. The government took more than six months to just go through it. Government agencies are not fully implementing the recommendations. Being a member of the committee, I am losing patience. People are asking me about the lake and it is my duty to tell them.
V Balasubramanian, retired IAS officer: We can draw only 29 tmcft of water from the Cauvery River. By 2031, there will be a shortage of 72 mld in the city. The BWSSB will be able to supply water only to two-thirds of the population. If a comprehensive plan to address the water crisis is not made in the next 10 years, half % of the population will leave the city.
A R Shivakumar, rainwater harvesting expert: Funds meant for the rejuvenation of lakes and groundwater have vanished. Roads and pathways in the city have been asphalted, leaving no room for rainwater to seep in, which causes flooding. Every year, at least 23 tmcft of rainwater is going down the drain.
Prakash Javadekar, BJP election in-charge, Karnataka: The Centre provided a detailed action plan with grants amounting to Rs 890 crore to save Bengaluru’s lakes, but the state government failed to put it in place. We will come out with plans to solve Bengaluru’s water woes in our manifesto.
BOX
’No links with Embassy’
Bengaluru Development Minister K J George has denied having links with the Embassy group which has won several government tenders. He said there was no conflict of interest in the Embassy group getting the work orders as he was neither a partner nor had any stakes in it.
Please note that under 66A of the IT Act, sending offensive or menacing messages through electronic communication service and sending false messages to cheat, mislead or deceive people or to cause annoyance to them is punishable. It is obligatory on kemmannu.com to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request. Hence, sending offensive comments using kemmannu.com will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Kemmannu.com be held responsible.
Similarly, Kemmannu.com reserves the right to edit / block / delete the messages without notice any content received from readers.
Final Journey of John Henry Almeida (71 years) | LIVE from Udyavara

Final Journey of Mrs. Severine Pais (85 years) | LIVE from Milagres, Kallianpur, Udupi

Final Journey of Mrs Lennie Saldanha (89 years) | LIVE from Kemmannu | Udupi

Final Journey of Zita Lewis (77 years) | LIVE from Kallianpur, Udupi

Final Journey of Henry Andrade (83 years) | LIVE from Kemmannu

Final Journey of Mr. Leo Britto (65 years) | LIVE from Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi

Mount Rosary Church - Rozaricho Gaanch May 2025 Issue

Final Journey of Juliana Machado (93 years) | LIVE from Udyavara | Udupi

Final Journey of Charles Pereira (78 years) | LIVE from Kemmannu

Milarchi Laram, Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, Diocese of Udupi, Bulletin - April 2025

Holy Saturday | St. Theresa Church, Kemmannu

Final Journey of Albert Lewis (85years) | LIVE From St Theresa’s Church Kemmannu | Udupi

Final Journey of Bernard G D’Souza | LIVE from Moodubelle

Earth Angels Kemmannu Unite: Supporting Asha Fernandes on Women’s Day

Final Journey of Joseph Peter Fernandes (64 years) | LIVE From Milagres, Kallianpur, Udupi

Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, Udupi - Parish Bulletin - January 2025 Issue

Rozaricho Gaanch 2024 December Issue - Mount Rosary Church, Santhekatte

Land/Houses for Sale in Kaup, Manipal, Kallianpur, Santhekatte, Uppor, Nejar, Kemmannu, Malpe, Ambalpady.

Naturya - Taste of Namma Udupi - Order NOW

Focus Studio, Near Hotel Kidiyoor, Udupi


Earth Angels - Kemmannu Since 2023

Click here for Kemmannu Knn Facebook Link
Sponsored Albums
Exclusive
Milagres Cathedral celebrates Sacerdotal Ruby Jubilee of Mngr Ferdinand Gonsalves and Parish Community Day with grandeur

Mangalorean Teen Feryl Rodrigues Shines as May Queen 1st Runner-Up at Indian Club Bahrain [Video]

A Saintly Shepherd of Our Times: A Tribute to Pope Francis

Servant of God – Fr Alfred Roche, Barkur -Closing ceremony of Birth Centenary Celebrations.

"Raav Sadanch" – A Konkani Musical Masterpiece by Young Prodigy Renish Tyson Pinto, Barkur Inspires Youth to Chase Their Passions.

Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Offers the Solemn Thanksgiving Jubilee Mass, in Milagres Cathedral

GOLDEN YEARS, HAPPIER TOGETHER….by P. Archibald Furtado

Parish Level inaugural Badminton Little Flower Cup 2024 held in Kemmannu.

Udupi: Foundation stone laid for the SVP sponsored new house at Kemmannu
