Govt has opted to set aside 24 TMC of water for Bengaluru until next monsoon

In 2018, Supreme Court authorized reservation of 24 TMC of water for the city

Bengaluru requires 1.6 TMC of water per month, expected to rise to 2.42 TMC

Due to a deficient monsoon and subsequent decline in water levels at the Cauvery belt reservoirs, there is growing apprehension about the water supply situation in Bengaluru.

Certain areas of the city have already encountered reduced water availability. As a response, the state government has opted to set aside 24 TMC of water for Bengaluru until the next monsoon.

DK Shivakumar, the Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Bengaluru, pointed out that in 2018, the Supreme Court authorized the reservation of 24 TMC of water for the city. He emphasized that this decision is in line with the Supreme Court’s directives, highlighting the importance of prioritizing Bengaluru’s water supply.

Shivakumar alluded to the fact that despite potential objections from Tamil Nadu, ensuring the availability of drinking water remains a crucial objective.

There is an increasing call to kick-start the Mekedatu project. Shivakumar indicated that they are preparing to seek approval for the Mekedatu project from the Cauvery authority and the Supreme Court. He elaborated on the project’s potential benefits in both water scarcity and surplus scenarios.

Presently, meeting Bengaluru’s water requirements necessitates 1.6 TMC of water per month. However, this demand is expected to rise to 2.42 TMC in January 2024 with the inclusion of 110 villages in the Cauvery water supply network during the fifth phase.

Accordingly, the concerned authorities are requesting heightened water storage in Kabini and KRS to fulfill Bengaluru’s drinking water needs.