Bengaluru's persistent struggle with waterlogging and polluted lakes has prompted experts to issue a stark warning: the current reliance on individual apartment Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) is not a silver bullet for the city's stormwater drain crisis. A call for a comprehensive and uniform policy overhaul has been made to address the systemic flaws in sewage management.
A Flawed, Fragmented Approach
The crux of the problem, as highlighted by authorities, lies in the fragmented and often poorly regulated approach to sewage treatment. While many new apartment complexes are mandated to install their own STPs, the system lacks uniformity in standards, maintenance, and, crucially, the integration of treated water back into the civic infrastructure. This piecemeal solution fails to address the larger network of stormwater drains, which continue to be contaminated by untreated or partially treated waste from various sources.
BDA President Satish Mallya and T Mahesh, Director of the Environmental Management and Policy Institute, have jointly emphasized the urgent need for a better and standardized policy framework. Their intervention, reported on 09 January 2026, underscores a growing consensus that technical fixes at the building level are ineffective without city-wide planning and enforcement.
The Need for a Unified Sewage Policy
The experts argue that a robust policy must go beyond mere installation mandates. Key elements of a successful strategy would likely include:
- Strict and uniform performance standards for all STPs, regardless of their size or location.
- Regular monitoring and maintenance protocols to ensure plants function optimally over time.
- A clear framework for integrating treated water into the city's non-potable water supply for activities like gardening, construction, or groundwater recharge, reducing the burden on freshwater resources.
- Comprehensive mapping and overhaul of the stormwater drain network to prevent cross-contamination from sewage lines and illegal discharges.
This approach shifts the focus from isolated compliance to a holistic sewage management ecosystem. The current model often leads to situations where treated water from STPs is not utilized effectively, while untreated sewage from other areas still finds its way into drains, ultimately polluting lakes and causing flooding during heavy rains.
Consequences and the Path Forward
The failure to implement a systemic solution has direct and severe consequences for Bengaluru. Recurring urban flooding, the degradation of precious water bodies like Bellandur and Varthur lakes, and public health hazards are all linked to the stormwater drain crisis. The call from Mallya and Mahesh is a recognition that the city's infrastructure planning must evolve to match its rapid growth.
The solution requires coordinated action between urban development authorities like the BDA, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), and citizen groups. Investing in centralized treatment facilities where feasible, mandating real-time monitoring of decentralized STPs, and creating economic incentives for proper reuse of treated water are critical steps. Without this coordinated policy push, Bengaluru's attempts to fix its water woes will remain incomplete, leaving its drains and lakes vulnerable to continued pollution and its citizens facing the same crises year after year.
