38k of 58k get Cauvery water connections

Bengaluru: BWSSB received 58,543 applications seeking Cauvery water connections from across the city last year. Of these, 38,013 connections were provided, generating revenue of nearly Rs 888 crore. Work is on to provide connections to the remaining applicants, most of whom applied after Oct 16, 2024 when Cauvery V Stage was commissioned. Before this, 55,000 residents were already connected to the network. Though the initial response to Cauvery V Stage project was poor, applications spiked in recent months, driven by concerns over declining groundwater levels and water shortages in the past. "The response to our campaign has been very good. The number of applications has increased dramatically," said BWSSB chairman V Ram Prasath Manohar. "This year, Bengaluru will receive 2,220 million litres per day from Cauvery river, including from V Stage project. Those who applied for Cauvery connections will not face disruptions in water supply," he added. To prevent further depletion of groundwater, BWSSB is considering legal options to make Cauvery V Stage connections mandatory for apartments. "We believe this can be done legally to curb overexploitation of underground water reserves. A proposal will be submitted to the govt soon," Manohar said. While the project is set to serve 110 villages by March-April 2025, eight villages — four around Kadugodi in the east and four near Chokkanahalli in the north — are yet to get water supply networks due to legal disputes over land required for ground-level reservoirs.