Sun Jan 26 00:16:57 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru Faces Looming Water Crisis: Groundwater Levels Projected to Plummet

**Bengaluru, January 25, 2025** – A joint study by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) reveals a severe impending water crisis in Bengaluru. The study projects a sharp decline in groundwater levels across the city, with some areas facing drops of up to 25 meters by mid-March.

Eighty wards, including 110 villages on the city’s outskirts, are heavily reliant on groundwater and face the highest risk of acute shortages. Central Bengaluru is projected to see a decline of up to 5 meters, while areas formerly under City Municipal Councils could see a drop of 10 to 15 meters. The most alarming situation is in peripheral villages, where levels may fall by 20 to 25 meters.

The study, the first of its kind in India to quantify city-specific water scarcity, estimates current groundwater usage at 800 Million Liters per Day (MLD). BWSSB Chairman V. Ram Prasath Manohar stressed the urgency of the situation, calling for immediate action.

However, the recently operational Cauvery V Stage project offers a potential solution for the 110 villages most at risk. While sufficient pipeline infrastructure is in place, the BWSSB urges residents to obtain connections by paying the required fee to alleviate reliance on dwindling groundwater supplies. The board highlighted the critical wards affected, including Jakkur, Nagavara, Horamavu, Laggere, and others, primarily located in Southeast Bengaluru and outer zones. The BWSSB is actively encouraging a shift from groundwater dependence to the Cauvery water supply to mitigate the impending crisis.

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