Bengaluru is likely to run out of drinking water in the next 15 days

Water resources minister says Karnataka’s reservoirs have seen a 60 per cent drop in storage. The state is looking at an unprecedented water crisis, according to the government, which has stated that the water-level in reservoirs across Karnataka is extremely low. The state government has also claimed that drinking water in the city can be made available only for the next 15 days. “If it does not rain in the next two weeks only God can save us,” water resources minister MB Patil told reporters on Saturday, stated India Times. 

Though the state has seen the onset of monsoon, rains in catchment areas have not been heavy enough to increase inflow into reservoirs. The situation is grim in Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir from where water is pumped to Bengaluru and Mysuru. “We will be constrained to draw water even from the dead storage if there are no adequate rains in the Cauvery river basin in the next two weeks,” Patil said, adding, “If it does not rain we do not know what to do.”

Karnataka has been reeling under severe drought for the last three years and the reservoirs have seen a 60 per cent drop in storage. The state government had banned usage of water for second crop and instead, save it for drinking water supply. The situation was well anticipated.

“We had told that there will be no disruption in water supply till June-end, now we are hoping for nature to show mercy on us,” Patil said. The low storage levels are also likely to lead to frequent power cuts in the city due to power shortages – as state is heavily dependent on hydel resources for energy.

We at SocialStory are running a campaign to help citizens come together and save the city of Bengaluru from dying. Bring out those mobile phones and laptops and share with us the problems you see. Start participating with those who are working for change and share your experiences with us. Please write to us at [email protected], and we will share your experiences and ideas with our readers.