Karnataka launches Cauvery Stage-V project to resolve water woes of Bengaluru's peripheral areas, tech hubs

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the fifth phase of the Cauvery project to supply drinking water to 110 villages at Thorekadanahalli in Malavalli taluk on Wednesday.

The Karnataka government on October 16 launched the Cauvery Stage V project, which provides piped water supply to Bengaluru’s peripheral areas. The launch took place after more than a decade-long wait.

Currently, 110 villages in the city’s outskirts, which were added to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits in 2007, have been dependent on private water tankers and bore-wells or other local sources of water. These areas often face acute water scarcity during the summer months.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated the scheme, which has been undertaken at Rs 4,336 crore in partnership with JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency).

Since 1974, the Cauvery river has been a major water source for the country's tech capital after the drying up of the Thippagondanahalli reservoir and Hesaraghatta lake.

According to Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) officials, the Cauvery Phase-5 water supply project is among the largest of its kind in India, designed to supply water to around 50 lakh people in the city, which is growing at a rapid clip.

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Bengaluru will receive an additional 775 million litres of water per day (MLD) from the Cauvery Phase-5 project. The BWSSB is  providing 10.64 lakh water connections, with an additional four lakh connections planned through this new phase.

However, only around 60,000 applications have been received so far. The lukewarm response can be attributed to the fact that many residents fear they may receive water bills at the height of acute shortages, high beneficiary contribution charges (BCC) for high-rise buildings coupled with a lack of awareness. The BWSSB has launched the "Cauvery at Your Doorstep" campaign to dispel misplaced notions among the public.

Initially conceptualised in 2012, work on the project began in 2018 with financial support from the JICA. The Japanese agency provided a loan covering 85 per cent of the project cost, while the state government and BWSSB each bore the remaining 7.5 per cent. "The Rs 5,550-crore project not only focuses on water supply, but also includes a Rs 1,000-crore investment in sewage management, which is a vital aspect of the city’s sanitation infrastructure," said a BWSSB official.

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However, the project has missed multiple deadlines over the years. The earlier deadline was March 2023.

Engineering marvel

BWSSB officials said that three advanced booster pumping stations have been constructed at TK Halli, Harohalli, and Thataguni, allowing water to be pumped to an elevation of 450 metres—roughly the height of a 50-storey building—through steel pipes ranging from 500 to 2,200 mm in diameter. These pipes cover a distance of around 110 kilometres (km) to deliver water to Bengaluru. “The project required the use of 145,000 metric tonnes of steel and 2.4 crore man-hours to complete, making it a feat of modern engineering,” said Ram Prasath Manohar, chairman,  BWSSB.

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The Cauvery Phase-5 scheme will distribute water across Bengaluru's suburbs via a steel trunk main pipeline, reaching reservoirs in Gottigere, Doddakanahalli, Lingadheeranahalli, SMV 6th Block, Kadugodi, and Chokkanahalli. From these reservoirs, water will flow to areas like Yeshwantpur, Bengaluru South, Byatarayanapura, T Dasarahalli, Mahadevapura, Rajarajeshwarinagar, and Bommanahalli.

BWSSB officials said they have started preparing for Cauvery Stage-VI, targeting areas such as Anekal, Nelamangala, Hoskote, and Devanahalli.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said that the plan is to make Bengaluru water surplus through sustainable water management projects. Shivakumar said that the city is experiencing a constant influx of around 300,000 people annually, with the current population estimated at 10.48 million.

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Clement Jayakumar from the Mahadevapura Task Force (MTF) said, "This scheme is much awaited. Cauvery water offers higher frequency and better quality, as compared to private tankers. It reduces contamination risk. While it's communicated that water will start coming today, areas like Mahadevapura will  receive it in December or January due to a pending 60-metre pipeline stretch on Jail Road in Kudlu, Bengaluru South, where hard rock has been found."

He said that the Gottigere area in Bengaluru South may get the supply first. Jayakumar said that the BWSSB's initial deposit is based on square metres (sqm) rather than water consumption. "Unlike Bescom, which adjusts deposits based on power usage, BWSSB charges Rs 600 per sqm for commercial properties and Rs 400 per sqm for a new Cauvery connection for an apartment. This creates a high entry-level cost for those with lower water consumption. Both apartments with or without STPs [sewage treatment plants] are charged the same deposit," he added.