While Bengaluru faces acute water shortage, Indonesia is wreaked by flash floods and landslides, whereas Kolkata gets ready to show off its under water metro. Water, the most essential yet misused commodity on planet Earth is giving mixed results, thanks to the human greed unleashed on it.

The water mafias will try to take control and mint as much money as they can, squeezing the last drop of sweat, so to speak, from hard working salaried class. Although the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has fixed the rates, people will still end up paying ₹600-1200 (that is if you live within ten kilometers of the city). And yes, how could you forget our beloved GST?! Well, these are the official prices. Who knows what the unofficial prices are or what is the rate on the black market? Although the government is doing everything in its power to make it compulsory for tank owners to register with the authorities, it is no secret at how our fellow brethren have become experts in finding loopholes in every rule book and law, to use them well to their advantage. Looks like water will be the new gold in the Bengaluru market.

But why did Bengaluru reach this stage? Failed monsoons, declining ground water levels, dried up reservoirs and empty bore wells. Add to it the decreased water supply in Cauvery river due to summer. Perhaps the Krishnaraja Sagar Dam in Madhya Pradesh didn't benefit the Bengaluruans after all. El Nino effect also contributed with scanty rainfalls in 2023. And the famous global warming has been increasing local temperatures by 2°-4° C contributing to accelerated evaporation of water bodies.

But can we really blame other factors solely? Hasn't the city and its people dug their own pit? I would certainly reply in a yes. Once a lush green city with rains almost round the year, Bengaluru has now turned into a concrete jungle. The rapid urbanization has cost the environment, causing Bengaluru to lose 79% of water bodies and 88% of green cover over the last few decades. Areas covered by concrete have increased 11-fold, according to to the studies at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

Of course, people are unhappy now, complaining about the water tank prices, about the government and everything else in between. But has anyone stopped to think if they have contributed to the problem? No one has the time to introspect and reflect, for we are very busy running behind more and more money, with an unending thirst of material possessions and properties to show off.

Rain water harvesting technology has been in place and improving for decades now. Why didn't city planners think of it when giving new building permits as the city expansion was taking place? Not only that, we have a nasty habit of cutting down trees at the first possibility of making money. Trees are the rarest things in the Universe. Other planets have all kinds of rare gems, but none have the oxygen supplying trees. When are we humans going to understand that in our greed we are cutting off our own oxygen supplies and fast tracking life on Earth towards extinction?

Looks like we have not learned anything from Cape Town and Chennai. Soon cities and metros all over the world will be heading to zero water situation or overly polluted cities caused by careless and overpopulated humans, who are not only jeopardizing their own existence, but also that of the fellow live beings on Earth. Before parting, I would like to say just one thing:

Dear Man, instead of trying to colonize other planets with your imperialist greedy tendencies, first learn to cherish and protect Mother Earth, who is the most priceless planet in this and all other universes or multiverses, for she has borne and raised you until now. Don't take her for granted.

©Tanujaa Pradhan.
Saturday. March 9, 2024.

P.S. I know I haven't talked about Indonesia and Kolkata after introducing this article with it. But hey, I know readers need to think about the big dose I just gave. Besides, do you really have the time to read 3 articles in one go?! Nay, I didn't think so too!! So long, until I feel inspired to unleash the churning of my feelings through words!

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As a follow up on this article, I was exploring the ways Bengaluru could be saved and found some interesting proposals:

1. Providing treated water to non potable usage in industries and construction. - That is definitely a good proposal. In fact, other cities and villages should take cognizance and follow suit.
2. Redistributing drinking water to areas facing stress. - This is very necessary and should be done on an urgent basis.
3. Divert 1,300 MLD of treated waters towards lakes for aquifer recharge. - MLD is million liters per day. It's also Minimal Liquid Discharge, a process that removes liquid waste and treats water for reuse. This is a good idea. But just hope nobody uses this treated water to water fruits and vegetables.
4. Consulting geologists for identifying locations for new borewells. - Well, this is a dicey option, simply because once water becomes available, will we continue to exercise caution in water usage or are we going to exhaust the remaining water sources too? But given the need of the hour, it's a necessity.
5. Urgently redrilling or flushing existing borewells with reduced yields. - Again a necessity.
6. Efficiently managing water distribution through existing water tankers. - That is definitely a huge challenge. Partly owing to the alleged nexus between the water mafias, governments and police, and partly due to people's impatience exhibited at the water tankers that is so famously depicted even in the movies.
7. Completing Cauvery stage 5 to address water availability in proposed regions. - I'm really not sure, if we need any more dams besides the 140+ already existing on poor dear Cauvery. Will it take care of her ecosystem or will it turn her into a dry river like the Kabini after the Kabini dam? Very difficult question to answer.
8. I would like to add one more thing to river conservation. Stop dumping industrial waste in rivers. Remember no matter how much treatment you do, it will never be the natural water that nourishes us and there will always be some toxicity left behind. Politicians, advisors, planners and all of us need to think before it's too late to recover: Is this how we want to live with tons of money and things, but no water or food to enjoy it? Is that the legacy we want to leave for our children?

©Tanujaa Pradhan.
Saturday. March 9, 2024.