Bengaluru has been grappling with a severe water shortage this season. The Silicon City has hardly rained this year. Just 2 mm of rainfall has been recorded around early January, on one day and completely dry thereafter, till now. The month of February without a drop of rain and March has tracked a similar record, so far. There are no hopes of any rains, at least for 2 weeks and may prolong further. On the other hand, heat is building up and the day temperature touched 36°C on 05th March. There are no hopes of any early relief and the mercury will stay in mid 30’s, above normal by 2-4°C. It is a double whammy for the city with high temperatures and dry weather conditions, during the month of March.
Bangalore city was once aptly known as the ‘city of lakes’ due to the presence of a large number of lakes ( about 285). These lakes were interconnected with canals/ drains to enable transferring of excess water to the next lake. Some of the lakes have dried up and few others reclaimed and therefore, the number has declined. The paucity of rains has dipped the level of underground water and the subsoil moisture has slumped to the bottom low. Most of the borewells have dried and the water management, on the whole, is crippled. A serious crisis of the water table has resulted in ‘rationing’ of water. Provisioning of water has been impaired, even in the condominiums. The cost of tankers carrying water has escalated to double the amount. The state government is combating with the unprecedented water crisis, with all possible means, including recycled and treated water from the resident's associations.
With the anticipation of more severe summers, the drinking water crisis is likely to turn worse for most places of the state, including the rural and urban districts of Bengaluru. In the month of February, the day temperature persistently remained in 30’s, without a break, even for a single day. The mercury rose to 34.5°C on 23rd Feb, well above the normal. The first week of March has hovered in mid 30’s with a high of 36°C last Tuesday. There is no weather system in the offing to provide any relief. No rains are likely, even in the catchment areas, to improve the flow in the streams and canals. Bengaluru’s citizens will have to brace for a hotter summer this season. The mercury is likely to stay above the comfort level for a longer duration. Significant rains and thundershowers mostly arrive in the month of May, that too in the second half. Only, sporadic weather activity can be expected with short and intermittent spells in April.
