Between May 18th and 19th, Bengaluru received over 130 mm of rain in 12 hours, flooding 500+ homes, causing power outages, and killing at least five people. Over 20 lakes overflowed, crippling transport. Waterborne diseases like dengue and typhoid are rising. Although floods feel routine, these disasters are not ‘natural’. The root causes of this recurring disaster are deeply entrenched in the city’s rapid and unplanned urbanization.
Bengaluru’s lake system is crucial to capture, direct and store the incoming rainwater. This is achieved through kaluves which are drainage channels that allow water to flow between lakes. Additionally, the vegetation helps to slow down the speed of water and aids its absorption into the ground. Together, the lakes and vegetation help prevent runoffs while also increasing ground water levels, thus helping to simultaneously tackle both flooding and drought. Bengaluru’s lake system has dwindled from 1,452 water bodies in the 1980s to just 194 lakes today. Green cover has dropped from 68% in the 1970s to under 3% in 2024. This loss is due to encroachment of lakes, concretizing of surfaces, and increase in paved spaces all of which inhibit water absorption and increase runoff. Additionally garbage and construction waste are often dumped into kaluves which blocks the flow of water forcing it onto roads and leading to floods. The loss of Bengaluru’s natural drainage systems has severely weakened its ability to handle excess rainfall, largely due to negligence and corruption. Technical reports and media have flagged key failures:
- Authorities continue issuing ‘no objection certificates’ for construction, ignoring expert warnings
- Sewers are poorly designed and do not adhere to proper construction standards
- Lakes and drains are often concretized as “rejuvenation,” which only increases flooding risk
- Many lakes lack sufficient outlet channels and kaluves are narrowed to allow more construction
- In some cases, lakes are neglected, allowing invasive plants to grow. Land mafias exploit this, colluding with corrupt officials to de-notify lakes under false pretenses. Once de-notified, the land is now up for grabs!
Instead of addressing systemic issues, the government seems to focus on cosmetic solutions that do little to prevent recurring disasters. Now, the Congress government seeks a ₹3,000 crore World Bank loan to rejuvenate kaluves and lakes. Given the existing systemic issues involving a nexus of real estate mafias and corrupt bureaucrats, serious concerns arise over the loan’s misuse, accountability, and eventual repayment.
