How Bengaluru Turned A Water Crisis Into A Global Model

Driven by infrastructure upgrades, digital innovation and citizen participation, Bengaluru has transformed a severe water crisis into a globally recognised model of urban water governance

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IN THE summer of 2024, Bengaluru found itself confronting one of the most severe water crises in its modern history. Groundwater levels had fallen sharply, tanker prices were soaring, and concerns were mounting over whether India's technology capital could sustain its rapid pace of growth. What many viewed as a crisis would ultimately become a turning point.

Under the leadership of and the vision of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, Bengaluru embarked on one of the most ambitious urban water transformation programmes undertaken by any Indian city. At the centre of this effort stood the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), led by Chairman V. Ram Prasath Manohar.

Over the past three years, the city has demonstrated that water security is not merely about creating new sources of supply. It is equally about governance, technology, sustainability, public participation and effective institutional execution. Today, Bengaluru's journey is increasingly being viewed as a blueprint for how rapidly growing cities can build resilience in the face of mounting environmental and infrastructure challenges.

Delivering Water Security at Scale

The most visible symbol of this transformation was the successful completion of the Cauvery Stage V Project. Constructed at a cost of more than Rs 4,300 crore, the project delivers 775 million litres per day (MLD) of drinking water and extends reliable supply to nearly 5 million residents across 110 villages and newly urbanised areas of Bengaluru.