At a time when water worries abound in the city with the Cauvery being its only major source, a special committee has chalked out an ambitious road-map to draw an additional 86.05 tmcft of water from various sources to the city by 2051.
The committee, constituted under former Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) chairman H N Thyagaraja, has finished drafting its final report, according to official sources. This was done after surveying and analysing various water sources since 2010. The report is likely to be submitted to the Chief Minister on Monday.
Currently, the BWSSB is supplying around 20 tmcft of water from all sources, including the Cauvery. It has infrastructure to pump about 1,400 MLD of water to the city. However, the city is reliant on the Cauvery for drinking water as the TG Halli reservoir has gone dry.
According to the committee’s report, by 2051, the city would expand from its present area of 800 sq km to nearly 1,500 sq km. It would have a population of around 3.454 crore who would require nearly 6,840 MLD of water by 2051. Therefore, the report notes, the city would need about 106 TMC of water by then.
Bangalore could then face acute water scarcity if alternative sources are not identified.
The committee has also suggested that at least 165 tmcft of water can be tapped by constructing reservoirs across west-bound rivers. However as these flow into the sea, investment of about `55,000 crore is required.