Heatwave Hits Bengaluru Lakes Levels Drop Up To 9 Feet Across City

Rising temperatures above 35°C in Bengaluru over the past week have left many lakes dry or several feet lower, but specialists argue this is not always a disaster. Lake volunteers describe the seasonal drying as a natural phase that can support restoration, even as weak upkeep, pollution and shifting responsibility between civic bodies add fresh pressure on Bengaluru's shrinking waterbodies.

Activists emphasise that most Bengaluru lakes are seasonal, not year-round water sources, and are therefore likely to empty during peak summer. This drying period, they say, lets the ecosystem reset before monsoon inflows return. However, they warn that encroachments, untreated sewage, solid waste and poor government oversight now make this natural cycle more fragile than in earlier decades.

Bengaluru lakes summer drying and restoration

South Bengaluru lake activist Raghavendra Pacchapur said, "Lake drying in summer is a natural ecological reset, but what we are seeing now is concerning because urban pressures and poor maintenance are compounding the problem. This is the best time to remove plastic and waste from lake beds — once the monsoon arrives, that opportunity is lost." Volunteers argue that delayed action means pollutants spread wider when rains resume.

Ram Prasad from Friends of Lake shares this worry about how authorities manage Bengaluru lakes. Ram Prasad said, "The real problem is when we artificially keep lakes filled, which leads to pollution and even 'dead lakes'." Environmental experts add that relying on treated water inflow throughout the year can disturb lake biology, speed up contamination and change the quality of silt on the lake bed.

East Bengaluru activist Balaji Raghotham reports sharper drops in that belt. Balaji Raghotham said water levels in some eastern Bengaluru lakes have fallen by about 8 to 9 feet. According to Balaji Raghotham, regular desilting during summer is vital for groundwater recharge, because a thick silt layer blocks percolation. Balaji Raghotham also stresses creating wetlands around lakes to support biodiversity and stabilise lake health.

Residents say the exposed beds of Bengaluru lakes bring both benefits and risks. Kasturi Nagar resident Abhijit said, "When the lake bed dries and gets exposed to sunlight, it helps break down contamination and improves the lake's ability to recharge during rains. While traditionally this silt would benefit farmers, in Bengaluru, there is a concern that sewage contamination may limit its safe use."

Bengaluru lakes management and governance

Experts note that constantly topping up Bengaluru lakes with treated wastewater may weaken natural cycles even further. If inflow quality is poor, they say, algae growth, odour and mosquito breeding can worsen. Polluted inflow also affects the soil and silt, which then cannot be used on farms. This breaks the older practice where nutrient-rich lake silt supported agriculture around the city.

Administrative changes have also altered how Bengaluru lakes are supervised. Under the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, a dedicated lakes department existed, with a commissioner and a specialised technical team handling restoration, maintenance and complaints citywide. After the Greater Bengaluru Authority took shape, that central structure was removed, and control over individual lakes shifted to local city corporations instead.

Residents now say the new system leaves a gap for Bengaluru lakes because no separate lakes department functions within these corporations. Citizens must route complaints through general helpline numbers, despite the complex nature of lake work, which ranges from desilting and wetland creation to sewage diversion. Activists argue that the current summer drying could help revive lakes, but only if agencies coordinate clean-up, desilting and regulation of treated water inflow.