Karnataka govt clears ₹7,000-crore Cauvery Stage VI project to supply water to Bengaluru’s layouts & outskirts

Major drinking water project to benefit 30 lakh residents across Kempegowda Layout, Shivarama Karanth Layout and eight urban local bodies around Bengaluru.

In a major boost to Bengaluru’s expanding water infrastructure, the Karnataka government on Thursday approved the ambitious Cauvery Stage VI project, aimed at supplying drinking water to newly developed residential layouts and several urban local bodies (ULBs) on the city’s outskirts.

The nearly ₹7,000-crore project will ensure regular Cauvery water supply to Kempegowda Layout, Shivarama Karanth Layout, and eight surrounding ULBs, benefiting an estimated population of 30 lakh people in the coming years. This decision is expected to significantly ease water stress in fast-growing residential zones.

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The urban local bodies that will receive Cauvery water under the project include Madanayakanahalli, Chikkabanavara, Hunasemaranahalli, Nelamangala, Hoskote, Devanahalli, Bashettihalli and Vijayapura. These areas, located on the periphery of Bengaluru, have witnessed rapid urbanisation, leading to a sharp rise in demand for reliable drinking water.

According to official sources, the project will require around 130 acres of land, estimated to be worth nearly ₹1,800 crore. To fund the large-scale infrastructure development, the government plans to raise financial assistance from international agencies, including the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and other funding institutions.

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The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had prepared the detailed project report and submitted it to the government in 2025, following extensive technical studies and future demand assessments. After reviewing the proposal, the government has now given its formal approval.

This clearance comes just four months after the inauguration of the Cauvery Stage V project, which added 775 million litres per day (MLD) of water supply to Bengaluru. With Stage VI now approved, authorities aim to further strengthen the city’s water security and meet the growing needs of its expanding population.