Bengaluru’s Water Crisis: Amidst Bengaluru’s ongoing water crisis, a growing number of netizens are advocating for the implementation of Work From Home (WFH) policies by the IT industry and the government. They argue that temporary WFH arrangements could help alleviate the strain on the city’s resources, particularly its water supply, by reducing the population density in India’s Silicon Valley. According to the Karnataka government, Bengaluru is currently grappling with a daily water shortage of approximately 500 million litres against a requirement of 2,600 MLDs.
Several legal experts and water specialists have also joined the chorus, urging the Karnataka government to promote WFH initiatives until the city overcomes its water scarcity challenges. Speaking at a recent event, Justice K Sreedhar Rao, former acting chief justice of the high courts of Karnataka and Assam, proposed the adoption of WFH measures, especially for the estimated 15 lakh IT professionals in Bengaluru. Justice Rao suggested that implementing WFH policies for a year could prompt approximately 10 lakh individuals to return to their hometowns, thus easing the burden on Bengaluru’s resources.
Highlighting the city’s exponential population growth, Justice Rao noted that Bengaluru’s population has surged from 25 to 30 lakh in the 1980s to over 1.5 crore presently. He emphasized that during the state’s three-year drought period from 2003 to 2004, the impact was less severe due to the lower population density at that time. Additionally, Justice Rao recommended measures such as desilting lakes to address the water crisis effectively.
Many netizens echo Justice Rao’s sentiments, advocating for the implementation of WFH policies as a proactive measure towards water conservation. “WFH is the way to go at the onset. This will actively contribute to water conservation as people shift back to their hometowns, alleviating pressure on Bengaluru,” remarked one user.
Similarly, another user emphasized the necessity for IT companies to offer WFH opportunities to migrant employees, allowing them to work remotely from their native places until the end of summer. “IT companies need to provide WFH to migrant employees so they can return to their hometowns and work remotely. This will aid in the survival of Bengaluru residents,” they stated.
Several netizens drew parallels to the WFH measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that similar arrangements should be actively considered now. “During Covid-19, employees and their families were supported by WFH. Now it’s time for companies to allow Home From Office,” expressed one user.
Amidst Bengaluru’s water crisis exacerbated by deficient rainfall and drying borewells, HSM Prakash, a retired deputy director-general from the Geological Survey of India, warned of insufficient rainfall during the upcoming 2024 monsoon season. He predicted a shortfall in precipitation for 2024, compounded by the effects of the deficient monsoon in 2023, with likely repercussions in 2025.
Another social media user urged IT companies to declare WFH for all employees, anticipating that such a move would prompt a significant portion of the workforce to return to their native places, thereby reducing scarcity. “If IT companies declare WFH for all, half of the workforce will go back to their native places, significantly reducing scarcity,” they asserted.
According to the Karnataka government, nearly half of Bengaluru’s 14,000 borewells have dried up, highlighting the severity of the water shortage. The city currently receives about 1,470 MLD of water from the Cauvery river. The government remains optimistic that the completion of phase 5 of the Cauvery project by June could alleviate the water crisis in Bengaluru to a considerable extent.