Bengaluru, once a city of a thousand lakes, is today among the most water-stressed cities in the world. Its rivers, streams, and lakes have been steadily lost to pollution and encroachment. Here we present analyses of Bengaluru’s hydrology, water governance, and present realities — from vanishing tanks and toxic rivers to the floods and water scarcity that now define the city’s water landscape. The analyses are evidence-based, drawing on field investigations, spatial maps, government data, and legal research.

This builds on our earlier foundational work at Paani.Earth. You can find our work on Bengaluru’s lakes and rivers (Arkavathi, Vrishbhavathi) here.