Bengaluru is set to get a major financial boost to tackle its growing water problems, as the World Bank approved a $426 million loan for the city’s water security upgrade. The scheme should enhance the water supply and quality for more than four million citizens.
Karnataka Water Security and Resilience Programme to Restore Lakes and Manage Floods
The Karnataka Water Security and Resilience Programme will also address flood danger by rehabilitating 183 lakes in the city, which serve as natural buffers during rains, says a press release.
“This will also benefit people through early warning and enhanced responses to extreme weather by enhancing the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre,” programme task team leaders Kristoffer Welsien and Anup Karanth added.
Private Sector Participation
World Bank Country Director for India, Auguste Tano Kouame, pointed out that the programme will enhance revenues for the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).
“It will mobilise USD 5 million in private capital. This will enhance efficiency, replace old water pipes, and leverage the private sector to develop innovative tools such as smart water meters,” Kouame added.
Upgrading the Sewerage Network and Sewage Treatment Facilities
The project will also provide sewerage connections to more than 100,000 households and enable the development of nine new Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) to avoid untreated sewage polluting lakes and drainages.
Treated wastewater will be reused for industrial purposes and groundwater recharge in the Greater Bengaluru region.
Loan Details and Timeline
The $426 million loan is from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) with a 20-year maturity, with a five-year grace period.