Hyderabad moving towards Bengaluru-like water crisis? Indian Institute of Science study suggests shocking similarities
Comparing the statistics between the two cities, the Indian Institute of Science's latest study underscores a striking resemblance. Over the years, Bengaluru's urban sprawl has surged from a mere 8 per cent in 1973 to a whopping 93.3 per cent in 2023, marking an unprecedented 1055 per cent increase in concrete structures. This unchecked expansion has led to a drastic 79 per cent reduction in water spread area, significantly impacting water availability.
Hyderabad's trajectory isn't too far off. Data from the municipal administration and urban development department (MAUD) indicates a substantial surge in commercial and residential built-up areas. Between 2010 and 2014, the city witnessed a growth of 50.7 million square feet (sft) in commercial built-up area, followed by an expansion of 100.4 million sft from 2015 to 2019. Additionally, the built-up residential area saw a surge of over 500 million sft from 2015 to 2021. Although precise current figures are unavailable, experts estimate a surge of 70 per cent to 80 per cent in the last three years.
«Excessive concretisation in the guise of urbanisation has triggered severe water scarcity in Hyderabad, evident even in March. The lack of permeable surfaces hinders groundwater percolation, exacerbating groundwater depletion. Furthermore, water bodies, essential for storing and recharging groundwater, are now inundated with sewage and pollutants, contributing to recurrent urban flooding,» emphasized BV Subba Rao, an environmentalist.
According to records from the
