Surprisingly, it is not the actual lack of water that leads to communal tension, but rather the lack of adeptness with which the system governs and administers the water. The multifarious and susceptible nature of water availability, allotment and utilization requires skilled and competent institutions to parlay various interests to manage this resource. This inspired some 2000 students from 50 civic clubs in 18 schools around the city to be a part of the investigating team and thread the ‘dark waters’ of Bangalore’s water distribution.

 

The survey organized by Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness covered more than 3000 households in the City. Plainly, the report concluded that government agencies are apathetic towards the diseased state of water management in the city and have failed to build awareness about preserving water.

 

The students, who were supported by the Public Affairs Centre, Swabhimana and Arghyam, interacted with various government bodies responsible for water management, including BWSSB, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, Central Ground Water Board, Mines and Geology, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Forest Department, Lake Development authority, Private Lake Developers and Apartment Promoters Association.

 

The BWSSB admitted that public taps were not being adequately metered, a major cause for water wastage. Other reasons for water wastage include corroded pipes, which the BWSSB promises to replace in 4-5 years, and several audaciously unauthorized connections. Over 30-40% of water was found to be wasted during distribution.

 

The helpline instituted to allow ordinary citizens to report water leakage was under repair and the department did not have much control over the actions of valve men (responsible for operating the valve during water distribution). When quizzed about low water tariffs for institutional clients, whom often use large amounts of water, the officials said that it was a “politically sensitive issue”.

 

On the issue of groundwater levels and regulations of borewells, the Mines and Geology Department admitted that there was no law to control the exploitation of ground water by private water suppliers even though they are well aware that this situation will lead to groundwater deterioration. The students also discovered that water in several areas was unfit for domestic use due to high concentrations of chemicals and bacteria.

 

The investigating team also exposed the government on its purported claim that it was promoting groundwater recharge. They brought to light a concrete footpath that came in the way of water seepage into the ground. In this case, rainwater was directed to the storm water drains, thus affecting the ground water recharge, the report noted.

 

When addressing the rapidly shrinking lakes in Bangalore, the Lake Development Authority contended that it was not an enforcing authority, but only formulates policy and submits it to the government.

 

On developing new residential layouts on tank beds, the BDA gave an absolutely irrational answer that “they were not tank beds, but just catchment areas”.

 

The realization of the potential of this report was dampened as government agencies were only able to provide pithy explanations to the student’s claims but did not provide a single solution on how to make agencies more accountable and failed to offer recommendations to improve depleting state of the city’s water resources.

 

Water is indispensable to human survival, livelihoods and most forms of economic production. Access to water can become the focus of tensions, which may spill into conflicts within the country.

 

Kudos, however, to the youth of Bangalore, whose initiative has been an eye-opener to many others on participation in socially important issues. The students’ innocent and optimistic interest in social matters must be guided to grow into responsible and mature applications, and we, as citizens, need to nurture this effort and work to keep the hope floating on these troubled waters.

 

 

This report was featured in several local newspapers. Following are the links to the articles featured in Deccan Herald and The Times of India:

·        Deccan Herald

·        The Times Of India