Building a water positive future | Ganesh Shankar | TEDxMAIS

TL;DR

Ganesh Shankar highlights the disappearance of lakes in Bangalore due to urban encroachment and emphasizes the need to become water positive by monitoring, conserving, harvesting, and treating water.

Transcript

would love to have an endless supply of water which is honestly a pretty big coincidence because next up for our last and final speaker we have Ganesh Shankar someone who was born and raised in Bangalore the city of lakes the city of gardens now a leading entrepreneur in sustainability and Water Conservation he works tirelessly against the largest ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Urban encroachment has led to the disappearance of over a thousand lakes in Bangalore, causing a water crisis.
• 💦 Bangalore's water supply comes from distant rivers, but this comes at the cost of depriving those living near the rivers of their water supply.
• 💦 To become water positive, it is crucial to monitor and reduce water wastage, harvest rainwater, and prioritize water treatment to avoid contamination of groundwater.
• 💦 Technology can be utilized to monitor water usage, identify leakages, and ensure accountability.
• 💦 Minimizing water consumption through efficient fixtures and tapping into the city's rainfall can significantly reduce dependency on distant water sources.
• 💦 Rainwater harvesting not only saves water but also helps prevent floods and replenishes aquifers.
• 💦 Water treatment is essential to ensure that the water discharged does not contaminate groundwater.

Questions & Answers

Q: How have lakes in Bangalore been impacted by urban encroachment?

Urban encroachment has led to the disappearance of over a thousand lakes in Bangalore, including popular ones like Kanga dlur, Dharmamudi, and Sangi Lake. These lakes were converted into localities and other structures.

Q: How did the community around Marala Lake manage to protect it from encroachment?

The residents around Marala Lake organized a rally, involving the Karnataka Forest Department and even children in a painting competition to raise awareness. Their collective efforts and involvement of authorities resulted in the lake being protected.

Q: Where does Bangalore's water supply come from?

Most of Bangalore's water supply comes from the River Cauvery and its tributary Kabini, located in Mandya and Mysore District. The water is pumped 1,500 ft above ground, making it the largest water pumping operation in Asia.

Q: What are the three approaches suggested by Ganesh Shankar for achieving water positivity?

The three approaches are: monitoring water usage through technology, minimizing water consumption through efficient fixtures, and harvesting rainwater through rainwater harvesting fixtures and pits.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ganesh Shankar shares his personal connection with water, recounting memories of a lake near his home in Bangalore that was saved from encroachment through community efforts.

• He discusses the current water crisis in Bangalore, where water is sourced from rivers but comes at the cost of stripping others near the rivers of their water supply.

• Ganesh proposes three solutions for becoming water positive: monitoring water usage using technology, minimizing water consumption, and harvesting rainwater to avoid dependence on distant water sources.