Page 4 - Water Crisis

Taps run dry across S Africa's Johannesburg in unprecedented water crisis

For two weeks, Tsholofelo Moloi has been among thousands of South Africans lining up for water as the country's largest city, Johannesburg, confronts an unprecedented collapse of its water system affecting millions of people. Residents rich and poor have never seen a shortage of this severity. While hot weather has shrunk reservoirs, crumbling infrastructure after decades of neglect is also largely to blame. The public's frustration is a danger sign for the ruling African National Congress, whose comfortable hold on power since the end of apartheid in the 1990s faces its most serious challenge in an election this year. A country already famous for its hours long electricity shortages is now adopting a term called water-shedding the practice of going without water, from the term load-shedding, or the practice of going without power. Moloi, a resident of Soweto on the outskirts of Johannesburg, isn't sure she or her neighbours can take much more. They and others across South Africa'

Bengaluru real estate developers cast a green lifeline amid water crisis

Incorporating the latest sustainability technologies does cost more, but most customers are increasingly willing to invest extra for these advanced features

B'luru water woes: Citizens in tech capital get innovative to tackle crisis

From exploring work from home (WFH) option and shifting to a place with better water facilities and taking bath on alternate days--citizens of India's tech capital are trying every possible thing to deal with an unprecedented water crisis that has gripped the city. The woes have become a serious issue of concern for Bengalureans , especially in Whitefield, KR Puram, Electronic City, RR Nagar, Kengeri and CV Raman Nagar. Those staying in high rise apartments with water harvesting facilities are also now dependent on tankers for drinking water and many restrictions have been imposed. Eateries in Bengaluru are mulling over use of disposable cups, glasses and plates to avoid excess use of water. Posters with catchy slogans -- "no rain no water," "water water everywhere but not a drop to drink", "conserve water", among others have been put up at many schools and building associations. Educational institutions are also feeling the pinch. Recently, a coaching centre in the city asked i

Bengaluru water crisis: With no end in sight, city scrambles to save water

Bengaluru is facing one of the water crises in years due to poor rainfall last year, what IMD has attributed as the El Nino effect

Will not release single drop of water to TN: K'taka CM amid water shortage

According to local reports, water sources in many villages across the state have dried up. The problem has been further compounded by the depletion of groundwater

Bengaluru warning

India must address water shortages

Bengaluru's water crisis is a call for urgent action amidst urban chaos

Tech firms embrace innovative water conservation measures, residents make do with less

B'luru water crisis: Legal action against drilling unauthorised borewells

Amid the water crisis, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has said it will take legal action against those drilling unauthorised borewells within the city limits. Starting March 15, people can seek permission for drilling borewells by submitting their applications on the official website of the Board and approval will be granted based on site inspection by the concerned officials, it said. BWSSB said in an order that before drilling borewells for personal or other use in Bengaluru city, it is mandatory to obtain permission from concerned authorities as per section 11 of Karnataka Ground Water (Regulation and Control of Development and Management) Act, 2011. It cited lack of adequate rainwater as a reason for decline in ground water level and said many borewells in the city have dried up. Officials also suspect that ground water level in the city is also decreasing due to "unscientific drilling" of borewells. According to the order, borewells should be drilled on

Karnataka didn't witness such severe drought in last 3-4 decades: Dy CM

Amid the acute water shortage in Bengaluru, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said on Monday the State had not witnessed such a severe drought in the past three-four decades. "In the last 30-40 years we had not seen such drought; though there was drought earlier we had never declared such a large number of taluks as drought-affected,", he told reporters here. "Wherever Cauvery river water has to be supplied, (it) is being done, but out of 13,900 odd borewells in Bengaluru, about 6,900 borewells have become defunct," he said. Shivakumar said the government has taken "things under its control" and arranged tankers to supply water.

No scarcity of water in B'luru, BJP created it: Dy CM Shivakumar slams govt

The Deputy CM highlighted that nearly 7 thousand borewells were running short in the city and efforts were on to address the issue

Hoteliers consider using disposables as water crisis deepens in Bengaluru

In the wake of the water scarcity, hoteliers in Bengaluru are mulling the use of disposable cups, glasses and plates to avoid excess use of water. The hoteliers are praying for good rain around Yugadi (Kannada new year) time to overcome the crisis. "Most of our borewells have gone dry and we are dependent on water tankers. If there is no rain around Yugadi, then we will have to make alternative arrangements," Karnataka State Hoteliers Association president Chandrashekar Hebbar told PTI on Saturday. According to him, 90 per cent of the water goes for washing utensils and which eventually goes down the drain. "Now we are seriously exploring 'use and throw' material as an option," Hebbar said. The hotelier said it will be a costly affair but the expenditure on the disposable materials will be passed on to the customers. "We are feeling the heat of the water scarcity in Bengaluru. We are praying for good rain around Yugadi," the KSHA president said. Meanwhile, the civic agency in ..

K'taka bans use of drinking water for car washing, gardening, imposes fine

As per the Bengaluru district administration, for up to 5 km, a 6000-litre water tanker will cost Rs 600, an 8000-litre water tanker will cost Rs 700, and a 12,000-litre water tanker will cost Rs 1000

Karnataka faces acute water crisis due to poor rainfall, B'luru worst hit

A coaching centre in Vijayanagar in Bengaluru asked its students to attend classes online due to an 'emergency' for a week. Similarly, a school on Bannerghatta Road in the city shut down, asking the students to attend classes virtually. The 'emergency' is the acute water crisis. Karnataka, especially its capital, is facing one of the worst water crisis in recent years due to poor rainfall in 2023. The Indian Meteorology Department has attributed the scanty rains to El Nino effect. One can gauge the grim situation from the fact that water tankers were seen inside Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's office residence on Kumarakrupa Road in Bengaluru. Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the borewell in his house in Sadashivanagar in the state capital has gone dry for the first time. This happened despite the fact that Sadashivanagar is located next to Sankey Lake. Water tankers running frequently on the Bengaluru roads have become a common sight now. On normal days, the w

Bengaluru water crisis to impact local industries in coming weeks: Experts

The concern of a water crisis is already making local federations and industrial bodies to work with government closely so that impact can be minimal

What is the Bengaluru government doing to fix the water crisis?

Bengaluru is facing one of the worst water crises in its history, with 50 per cent of the borewells already dried up. While in our previous video, we have explained the root cause behind the shortage

Water crisis hits Bengaluru: Tanker spotted at CM Siddaramaiah's office

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar has issued a warning to water tanker owners across the state, stating that their tankers will be seized if they do not register with the authorities by March 7

In 2050, 33% of global river sub-basins could face water scarcity: Study

In 2050, one-third of global river sub-basins are projected to face severe scarcity of clean water due to nitrogen pollution, new research has found. Analysing more than 10,000 global river sub-basins, an international team of researchers found that nitrogen pollution dramatically increased the number of river basin systems considered scarce with regards to its water quality. The supply of clean water for all is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030. They projected that nitrogen pollution could render many sub-basins in South China, Central Europe, North America, and Africa to become water scarcity hotspots. The team, led by Wageningen University in The Netherlands, has attributed the nitrogen pollution to urbanisation and agriculture. Their findings are published in the journal Nature Communications. River sub-basins are smaller working units of river basins, which are a large source of drinking water but also remain locations of large scale urban

Har Ghar Jal initiative: Can some states come in the way of 100% coverage?

The Jal Shakti ministry's data shows the target is within striking distance: 73.57 per cent of the households have already been covered by this flagship scheme of the Narendra Modi government

Israel to begin desalination program in Lakshadweep today: What it means

The Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) or desalination program is a popular technique adopted by many countries to tackle the issue of scarce water resources

Water production curtailed 25-30% in Delhi's Wazirabad, Chandrawal plants

Due to the high level of pollutants in the Yamuna river at the Wazirabad pond, water production has been curtailed by 25-30 per cent in treatment plants at Wazirabad and Chandrawal, Delhi Jal Board officials said on Monday. Water supply will therefore be available at low pressure in several areas of Delhi from the evening of December 25 till the situation improves, they said. "Due to high level of pollutants (Ammonia more than 2.3 ppm) being received in River Yamuna at Wazirabad pond, water production has been curtailed 25-30 per cent from Water Treatment Plants of Wazirabad and Chandrawal," a DJB notice said. The areas likely to be affected are Civil lines, Hindu Rao Hospital and adjoining areas, Kamla Nagar, Shakti Nagar and adjoining areas, Karol Bagh, Pahar Ganj and NDMC areas, Old and New Rajinder Nagar, Patel Nagar (East and West), Baljeet Nagar, Prem Nagar, Inderpuri and adjoining areas, Kalkaji, Govindpuri, Tugalkabad, Sangam Vihar, and Ambedkar Nagar, it said. Other areas