As Bengaluru grapples with a severe water crisis, exacerbated by a shortfall of about 500 million litres of water per day (MLD), citizens, legal experts, and water specialists are advocating for the implementation of Work From Home (WFH) policies. The aim is to mitigate the strain on the city’s resources by reducing its population density.
Justice K Sreedhar Rao, former acting chief justice of the high courts of Karnataka and Assam, proposed the adoption of temporary WFH measures, particularly for the approximately 15 lakh IT workers in Bengaluru. He suggested that allowing WFH arrangements for a year could prompt around 10 lakh people to return to their hometowns, thus alleviating pressure on Bengaluru’s resources.
Justice Rao highlighted the exponential population growth in Bengaluru, from 25 to 30 lakh in the 1980s to over 1.5 crore presently, contributing to the severity of the water crisis. He also recommended additional measures such as desilting of lakes to address the situation.
Echoing Justice Rao’s sentiments, several netizens expressed support for WFH initiatives, emphasizing its potential to actively contribute to water conservation. They advocated for IT companies to provide WFH options, allowing employees to relocate to their native places temporarily.
Furthermore, experts like HSM Prakash from the Geological Survey of India cautioned about anticipated deficient rainfall in the 2024 monsoon season, exacerbating the water scarcity situation. Given these concerns, there is a growing consensus among netizens for IT companies to declare WFH for all employees, facilitating a significant reduction in population density in Bengaluru.
The Karnataka government, while acknowledging the severity of the water crisis, remains optimistic about easing the situation with the completion of phase 5 of the Cauvery project by June, which is expected to augment the city’s water supply significantly. However, calls for immediate action, including WFH measures, continue to gain traction as Bengaluru grapples with its water woes.
