World Bank Approves $426 Million for Bengaluru’s Water Security and Lake Revival Project
In a significant boost to Bengaluru’s water infrastructure, the World Bank has approved a $426 million (approx. ₹3,540 crore) loan to support the Karnataka Water Security and Resilience Programme. The initiative aims to strengthen water supply systems, enhance climate resilience, and revive the city’s extensive network of 183 lakes.
The project is set to benefit over four million residents in the Greater Bengaluru region by improving access to clean water, reducing the risk of urban flooding, and enhancing the city’s preparedness for extreme weather events.
According to a joint statement by Kristoffer Welsien and Anup Karanth, the programme’s task team leaders, “Reviving lakes will help mitigate flooding, as these water bodies act as natural buffers during heavy rainfall. Strengthening the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre will also help communities with better early warning systems and disaster response.”
Auguste Tano Kouame, the World Bank’s Country Director for India, emphasized the programme’s broader benefits: “This initiative will also support revenue enhancement for the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board by improving operational efficiency and leveraging $5 million in private capital for solutions such as smart water meters and the replacement of aging pipelines.”
Key components of the programme include:
- New sewerage connections for over 1,00,000 households
- Construction of nine sewage treatment plants (STPs)
- Reuse of treated wastewater for industrial applications and groundwater recharge
The $426 million funding comes as a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), with a 20-year maturity period and a five-year grace period.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
