The Arkavathi–Vrishabhavathi river system, which once sustained Bengaluru’s water needs, is now reduced to “urban rivers”—a euphemism for waste channels. As the city shifted to Cauvery water, its own rivers lost their functional value. The severely polluted Peenya industrial area—one of the largest in South Asia—lies within the city and continues to toxify both rivers, along with urban sewage and solid waste. This page documents the state of these rivers, key sources of pollution, governance failures, and major projects shaping the basin—offering a stark representation of how urban rivers are treated.