By: Deeksha Gupta

Introduction –

The map depicts the population density of Karnataka. The map shows the people living per km^2 and the areas in yellow marks the densely populated areas of Karnataka. As illustrated in the map, Bangalore is covered in yellow depicting how densely populated the city is. This article aims to analyse how one of the most densely populated areas of Karnataka navigates it sewerage system.

Bangalore, the capital city of the state of Karnataka, and is one of the most dynamic and rapidly growing cities in the country. Known as the “Silicon Valley of India,” Bangalore has earned a global reputation as a leading hub for information technology (IT), research and innovation. This cosmopolitan city seamlessly blends a rich cultural heritage with cutting – edge modernity, and on the top of its weather makes it one of the most attractive urban centres in India. Bangalore’s infrastructure has evolved significantly over the past few decades in response to its increasing demand and rapid urbanization. Over the years the city has got well connected by an extensive road network, metro rail and public transportation systems and through railways and airways with the rest of the country and the world.

Alongside, Bangalore is investing urban infrastructure to address the challenges posed by its growing population and corporate developments. This includes initiatives such as water supply, sewage treatment and waste management systems. One of the remarkable projects include the development of sewage treatment plants (STPs) to protect the city’s lakes and rivers from pollution, a pressing issue given Bangalore’s rapid expansion and environmental concerns.

Background –

The uneven distribution of the STPs across Bangalore is a consequence of a combination of historical patterns, rapid urbanization, fragmented planning, land constraints, and policy gaps. This imbalance leads to certain areas being underserved, which results in untreated sewage being discharged into water bodies, causing pollution and health risks. Growth in Pockets, as in areas such as Malleswaram, Basavanagudi, and the Central Business Districts (CBD) were among Bangalore’s early developed regions and hence the sewage management system also got concentrated here and the newer areas that got developed later couldn’t have the same infrastructure. The IT Boom and Migration made Bangalore experience unprecedented population growth, leading to growth and development of newer areas and the STP’s development got outpaced. The city’s infrastructure planning has often been reactive rather than proactive, with STP’s being built to address existing issues rather than anticipating future growth leading to uneven distribution.

Analysis –

The map provides a visual representation of the sewage treatment plants (STPs) distributed across Bangalore, marked by blue triangles, with corresponding treatment capacities (in MLD1). STPs are concentrated in certain regions, especially in the eastern and central parts of Bangalore. Notable clusters include areas around Bellandur, Kadubeesanahalli, and KCC valley, where multiple STPs with large capacities (e.g. 150 MLD and 90 MLD) are located whereas the western and southern parts of the city appear to have fewer STPs with smaller in capacity compared to those in the eastern region showing disparity. Eastern Bangalore which includes areas like KCC Valley and Bellandur, high population density, industrial zones and IT parks in this

1 MLD – Million Liters per Day.

region. This distribution likely aligns with areas experiencing rapid urbanization and economic activity.
One of the emerging themes over here, is how the uneven distribution of the sewage treatment plants corresponds so evenly with the area of Bangalore that defines it in today’s time, i.e. the central and eastern Bangalore where all the major IT companies and professionals reside, underlining the fact that to avail the basic governance facilities, one needs to belong to certain class and profession. It also highlights that how the preferential treatment to economic activities is being given more weightage over the social dimensions.

The map highlights the distribution of sewerage pipelines within Bangalore. The orange lines indicate where these pipelines are concentrated.

The map shows a dense network of pipelines in the central Bangalore, indicating significant infrastructure dedicated to managing waste in this core urban area. Areas such as Koramangala, Indiranagar and Jayanagar show a high density of pipelines. The area is known for its commercial activities. The outskirts of Bangalore, represented by lighter shading have fewer pipelines. This could be due to less development or lower population density in these regions.
The concentration of pipelines in central and major localities highlights the emphasis on servicing densely populated and commercially active areas as analysed in the above provided map.
The visual representation also highlights that how the uneven distribution of the pipelines across the city could lead to public health and environmental hazards. Areas with dense pipelines network likely benefit from better sanitation and lower risk of disease spread as compared to areas that lack.

The map titled “Sewerage Treatment Plants and Sewerage Pipelines: Bangalore illustrates the layout of sewerage pipelines and treatment plants in Bangalore and how both developments has taken place in a concentrated zone only.

Elevation and Sewerage Pipeline Distribution Elevation Ranges:

Low Elevation (50 -13110 meters): Represented in pink, these areas generally have a no network of sewerage pipelines. These regions might be less populated or still under development, leading to less extensive sewerage infrastructure.

Medium Elevation (13110 – 37650 meters): Shown in light blue, medium elevation areas also contain significant sewerage infrastructure, though perhaps less dense than high elevation zones. These regions may have a mix of residential, commercial and undeveloped areas.

High Elevation (37650 -66040 metres): Marked in purple, high elevation areas trend to have fewer pipelines. High elevation zones are often more densely populated and developed, necessitating robust sewerage infrastructure.

This map illustrates the relationship between sewerage pipelines and population distribution in major towns within Bangalore, focusing on a 3 km buffer zone around each town. The map highlights key towns around Bangalore with their population as per 2011 Census. The BBMP Municipal Corporation has the 84,43,675 which is the largest population. It is pertinent to note over here that this area is also that area which are highly concentrated with the sewerage treatment plants as well as pipelines. On other hand, densely populated areas/towns include the Anekal Town Municipal Council and Hebbagodi Census Town which have population of 44,260 and 34,827 respectively are those areas, where even within the radius of 3 kms, there are no pipelines and treatment plants despite of high population. This outlines the high disparity with the distribution of the sewerage pipelines and populations.

Conclusion –

Urban planning in Bangalore requires a shift from reactive to proactive strategies. Which will ensure sustainable and inclusive growth. By decentralizing wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), upgradation of existing STPs C public – private partnerships through
incentives, Bangalore can become a successful example for equitable urban development and environmental stewardship.

Data Source –

Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Google Earth Pro, Urban City Open Data Portal, Bhuvan, Population Census 2011.