Bengaluru East Faces Water Crisis As Groundwater Levels Plummet

Bengaluru East taluk is experiencing the most severe impact of declining groundwater levels this summer, while Bengaluru North taluk appears to be the least affected, according to data from the Karnataka Groundwater Authority.

The data collected for last December, as well as January and February of this year, reveals a significant decrease in groundwater levels in Bengaluru East taluk, particularly noticeable in areas hosting major IT corridors where water scarcity is acute and groundwater extraction is rampant.

In comparison to the decadal average (2014-2023) for groundwater levels during these months, Bengaluru East taluk has experienced a substantial decline. Specifically, there was a decrease of 10.8 meters in groundwater levels in February, 9.28 meters in January, and 5.81 meters in December. This translates to an overall decline of 5.52 meters during the December-February period.

Jagadish Reddy, a resident of Varthur, noted, "There is a lack of Cauvery river water supply to many areas in East taluk, coupled with unregulated development, leading to a high number of illegal borewells. The rapid vertical expansion and inadequate resource allocation exacerbate the groundwater depletion in this taluk."

On the other hand, Bengaluru South taluk has also experienced a notable decline in groundwater levels, albeit not as severe as in East taluk. Anekal and Yelahanka taluks have also seen substantial declines, with Yelahanka experiencing the least decline during the December-February period.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru North taluk has shown minimal changes in groundwater levels, indicating it is the least impacted among the taluks surveyed.