Amidst the prevailing water crisis in Bengaluru, a beacon of hope emerges as nearly 500 families in Kanteerava Nagar near Nandini Layout find respite through a newly rejuvenated open well in their vicinity.
This success story not only underscores the resilience of traditional water sources but also highlights the potential for addressing water scarcity challenges in urban landscapes. The open well in Kanteerava Nagar, capable of delivering close to one lakh litres of water daily for non-potable purposes, stands as a testament to the efficacy of tapping into shallow aquifers. Collaborative efforts spearheaded by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), in partnership with the Biome Environmental Trust, have led to the revival of five such open wells across the city. These wells, previously defunct and marred by neglect, have undergone a transformation through desilting, cleaning, and structural enhancements. Garbage dump spots have been cleared, vegetation removed, and necessary infrastructure like grilles and pulleys installed to facilitate water extraction. The result is a sustainable water supply system that caters to the needs of local communities.
The significance of tapping into shallow aquifers, which do not run as deep as borewells, cannot be overstated in the context of urban water management. Beyond Bengaluru, similar initiatives are underway in ten cities across India, including Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, and Kolkata, under the auspices of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs’ Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT 2.0). As Bengaluru navigates its water challenges, the revitalisation of open wells offers a compelling case for sustainable water resource management. By leveraging traditional wisdom and modern techniques, cities can mitigate the impacts of water scarcity and build resilience against future challenges. The success of initiatives like the open well revival in Bengaluru serves as a beacon of hope for urban water sustainability efforts nationwide.
“The layer just below the top layer of the soil is like a sponge which holds on to water. This layer is called a shallow aquifer and open wells tap into it. The rejuvenation was taken up under the shallow aquifer management project which is in progress across many cities,” explained S Vishwanath, Advisor, Biome Environmental Trust. These wells also act as recharge structures to help the percolation of rainwater during the monsoon. “The use of traditional methods to source water will help us bring down the demand and stress on Cauvery water and borewells. We need to adopt such methods to ensure water security,” said Suma Rao, project manager from Biome.
