BENGALURU — Once known as the “City of Lakes,” Bengaluru is in a desperate race against time to save its vital water bodies from a combination of rampant urbanization and the growing threats of climate change. The city, home to India’s burgeoning tech industry, has seen its number of lakes plummet from over 250 in the 1960s to approximately 180 today, with many of those remaining in a critical state of neglect.
The decline is the result of a multifaceted crisis. Decades of unchecked encroachment for new apartments and city infrastructure have directly consumed lake land. In a stark example of the struggle, fishermen like Sunil Kumar are working with volunteers to clear invasive weeds and debris from the surface of Doddajala Lake. The weeds, fueled by sewage and other pollutants, create an impenetrable carpet that chokes out oxygen and kills fish.
Beyond direct encroachment, experts point to a series of interconnected problems. Poorly maintained sewage systems and illegal connections have resulted in untreated wastewater flowing directly into stormwater drains, which in turn feed the city’s lakes. This influx of nitrogen and phosphorus acts as a fertilizer for invasive plants and triggers toxic algal blooms, further degrading water quality and biodiversity. A 2017 study by the Indian Institute of Science found that a staggering 85% of Bengaluru’s lakes were polluted.
The consequences of this mismanagement are far-reaching. The loss of lakes has severely impacted the city’s ability to recharge its groundwater, making it increasingly vulnerable to water scarcity and drought. The lakes also serve as a natural defense against flooding during heavy monsoon rains by holding excess water. With many lakes either gone or severely degraded, Bengaluru is more susceptible to the kind of urban flooding that has become a regular occurrence in recent years.
City authorities and a growing number of citizen-led groups have begun to mobilize, undertaking restoration efforts on dozens of lakes. These projects involve a mix of desilting, installing sewage treatment plants, and planting native trees to create buffer zones. While some of these efforts have been successful, activists stress the need for a more comprehensive, science-based approach. The battle to save the lakes is not just an environmental one; it’s a fight to protect the city’s climate resilience and ensure a sustainable future for its millions of residents.