As per the recent reports from India’s Silicon Valley, all is not well, since the professionals are leaving the city amidst a worsening drought.
Water Crisis in Bengaluru Amidst Regional Tensions and Economic Setback
The city has facing acute water crisis and with more than its half of wells being dried up due to failed rains last year, life stands still and runs on water tankers for their daily needs.
Meanwhile Bengaluru deals with this issue, there has been a headline statement made by neighbouring state ministers where they are suggesting the move to shift these offices to Kerala where water is abundant.
Notably, such suggestions raise concerns amidst historical tensions over water distribution in southern India.
This water shortage is not just plaguing Bengaluru, there are others which include the likes of Chennai and Hyderabad.
There is one more important fact, that the southern states like Karnataka, Kerala, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, comprise only 15% of India’s population, but when it comes to the GDP contribution, then they lead the way on the back of their technology and manufacturing sectors.
Tackling Water Usage in India’s Sensitive Industries for Sustainable Growth
Addressing the current issue would also mean confronting with politically sensitive industries like agriculture and power generation. Bulk of the water in India goes to farming, as much as 85% and it is only a small fraction that in consumed in the household. The cultivation and encouragement of the water-intensive crops like sugarcane aggravate the problem, so does the electricity generation by water-intensive coal-fired method.
Though in the light coming general elections, these pressing issues might not be addressed, but the same issues cannot be kept dangling for long since these very issues can potentially tarnish the reputation of cities like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, which are generally popular and appealing amongst professionals due to their conducive environments.
The nation needs to access the needs of its urban centers and navigate the current challenges in such a way that the climate change is addressed with sustainable economic growth.
