Bengaluru Water Crisis: Stage-6 Cauvery Delay Threatens Suburban Supply

Bengaluru city and its outskirts may face severe drinking water shortages, experts have warned, as the Cauvery Stage-6 water supply project by the Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board (KWSSB) remains pending government approval. The project, designed to deliver 6 TMC of water, is estimated to cost ₹6,939 crore, and any further delays could postpone water supply to new residential areas, raising concerns for residents in rapidly growing suburbs.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Cauvery Stage-6 project was completed nearly nine months ago, and the water board submitted it to the government for approval. However, the file is still awaiting clearance, and officials stress that no construction work can begin without formal sanction.

The Stage-6 project is intended to directly supply water to Bengaluru's outskirts and nearby towns, including expanding areas such as Madanayakanahalli, Hunasamaranahalli, Chikkabanavara, Nelamangala, Hoskote, Devanahalli, Bashettihalli, and Vijayapura. It also aims to provide water to new residential layouts like Nadaprabhu Kempegowda and Shivarama Karanth colonies. Under the plan, 4 TMC of water is reserved for Bengaluru's new suburbs and selected villages, while 2 TMC will be redistributed to nearby towns for drinking water and sanitation needs.

Currently, Bengaluru's population of around 1.5 crore receives water through Cauvery Stages 1 to 5, supplying 2,225 MLD, of which 354 MLD is reserved as storage and 1,871 MLD is distributed through the network. With population growth and increasing industrial demand, the existing supply is already under pressure, and officials note that allocations from the Cauvery have reached their limit. The Stage-6 project would provide an additional 6 TMC of water, but delays in approval could directly impact future supply, particularly in the outskirts.

The total cost of the project is ₹6,939 crore, including ₹5,177 crore for construction and ₹1,822 crore for land acquisition, covering around 130 hectares of land for treatment plants, storage reservoirs, and pipelines. KWSSB has approached international and domestic financial institutions, including the World Bank, JICA, and HUDCO, for funding. However, loan approvals are contingent on government sanction, making financial clearance crucial before work can start.

Technically, the DPR proposes that water from the KR Sagar (KRS) reservoir will travel about 140 km to Bengaluru. A treatment plant and primary storage reservoir are planned near Katteri village, 2 km from KRS. Water will then be pumped to secondary and tertiary reservoirs, including Devar Hosahalli near Ramanagara and NICE Road, Kengeri, before reaching a central reservoir at Jakkur (JKVIK) for distribution to target areas. The system requires advanced pumping, storage, and control infrastructure, along with continuous power supply, to ensure reliable water delivery.

The Stage-5 project, supplying 775 MLD from Torekadanahalli in Malavalli, took nearly 10 years to complete, with water supply beginning in October 2024. While this added water to several city areas, demand in suburban regions remains unmet. Bengaluru, known as the Silicon City, is expanding rapidly, and the city depends heavily on Cauvery water and borewells, but urbanization has lowered groundwater levels, making borewells increasingly unreliable. Delays in Stage-6 raise concerns of a future water crisis, particularly for middle- and low-income families in the outskirts.

Despite these challenges, BWSSB officials remain optimistic about quick approval for Stage-6. Dr. Ramaprasad Manohar, Chairman of KWSSB, said:

"The DPR for the Cauvery Stage-6 project has been completed and submitted to the government. Once approval is received, all necessary steps will be taken immediately to supply water to both city and suburban areas."

With Bengaluru's population growth, rapid urbanisation, and rising industrial demand, the Stage-6 project is critical to ensure sustainable water supply for the city and its peripheral areas. Officials are hopeful that government clearance will allow construction to begin soon, providing much-needed relief to residents in expanding suburbs.