WFH, and Bathe on Alternate Days

Work from home to using toilets in malls. Residents of India's 'Silicon Valley' Bengaluru
are exploring all options every single day to overcome the unprecedented water crisis
that is plaguing their city. Residents in many neighbourhoods have been forced to order
food from restaurants, and bathe on alternate days due to the water scarcity.
Even those living in high-rise apartments that are equipped with water harvesting
systems now find themselves reliant on water tankers for basic needs. Society offices
have imposed stringent water usage restrictions on their residents, one of which
includes prohibition on washing cars.
Eateries and restaurants are seriously considering the use of disposable cups, glasses
and plates to cut back on use of water.
Educational institutions are also not left out of the worrying situation. Recently, a
coaching centre in the city asked its students to attend classes online due to an
'emergency' for a week. A school on Bannerghatta Road was also closed and asked
students to attend classes online like they did during the Covid pandemic.
Residents are coming with up methods to conserve water. With summer coming on and
temperatures rising, it is almost impossible to avoid a daily shower but there is no option
other than bathing on alternative days.

"What to do? Clean vessels, cook food, wash clothes…we have started using paper
plates. That way, we have cut down on our water usage. We order food twice a week.
We have started using the washing machine only once a week now," said a resident fed
up with the state of affairs in her city.
Many others have resorted to visiting a mall to take a shower or use the toilet.
Lakshmi V, an IT professional living in Singasandra, has been requesting her firm to
allow WFH option so that she can temporarily shift to her native place in Tiruchirapalli in
Tamil Nadu until the situation eases. "If the situation persists, we are considering
seeking work from home option. We are planning to move to our native place in Tamil
Nadu temporarily till rain arrives here," she said.
Bengaluru primarily gets its water supply from two sources – the Cauvery and
groundwater. For most non-drinking uses, recycled water processed by sewage
treatment plants is used. With no rain for a while now, the primary sources have already
been overstretched. Bengaluru needs 2,600-2,800 million litres of water daily, while the
current supply is half of what's required.
The result is a daily struggle for the city's residents.
The brunt is also being borne by people living in the outskirts of Bengaluru, especially in
110 villages that were merged with the city in 2007.
The crisis has now turned into a political battle between the state's ruling Congress
government and the opposition BJP. It has become a burning issue with Lok Sabha
elections merely weeks away. While the BJP has held several protests blaming the
government, the Congress is accusing the BJP-ruled central government of holding
back financial assistance to drought-hit Karnataka.