Just a year ago, Bengaluru’s residents queued for water, borewells ran dry and the city’s famed lakes turned into dusty playgrounds. Today, the city faces a starkly different problem: 63 of its lakes have filled to capacity after intense pre-monsoon showers, forcing authorities to launch emergency clean-up drives to prevent flooding in high-inflow zones. The dramatic shift highlights the city’s fragile water management system, caught between scarcity and excess.
In March 2024, a CNN report described Bengaluru’s dire situation, with residents queueing for water tankers and borewells running dry. In May 2024, a TOI report revealed that 125 of the city’s 800 lakes had completely dried up, while another 25 were on the verge of depletion. The crisis was so severe that the government considered emergency measures, including rationing and interstate water transfers.
Fast forward to May 2025 and the scene is unrecognisable. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) reported that relentless rains have filled 63 lakes to the brim, including key reservoirs like Bellandur and Varthur. The municipal corporation has deployed teams to clear blockages in stormwater drains and prevent urban flooding - a far cry from last year’s desperate scramble to conserve every drop.
Experts say Bengaluru’s flip-flop between drought and deluge underscores systemic failures in water governance. A column in IndiaBioscience pointed out that unchecked urbanisation has destroyed natural drainage systems, leaving the city ill-equipped to handle both scarcity and surplus.
Over 90% of Karnataka's lakes, with most in Bengaluru, failed to meet water quality standards in 2024. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) specifically highlighted neglect of lake maintenance and unchecked pollution as key reasons behind the city's acute water shortages and the dramatic drying up of lakes, the Bangalore Mirror highlighted in one of its articles.
Experts also point to the unpredictability of Bengaluru’s weather and the city’s fragile water infrastructure. Last year’s crisis was compounded by inadequate pre-monsoon rainfall, poor lake desilting and a lack of effective rainwater harvesting.
This year, the city has been inundated by over 100 mm of rain in a single night, with some areas recording as much as 132 mm. The sudden surplus has shifted the focus from scarcity to flood management, with the BBMP now clearing garbage and plastic from lake canals to ensure smooth water flow.
Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has responded to recent tragedies, including the electrocution of two men during flooding, by proposing a ban on basement parking in low-lying areas, a move aimed at reducing future risks.
While this year’s rains have temporarily eased fears of water scarcity, they have also exposed the city’s vulnerability to extreme weather swings. Environmentalists warn that without sustained investment in lake maintenance, rainwater harvesting and urban planning, Bengaluru could swing back to crisis mode as quickly as the weather changes.
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