Karnataka Water Security and Resilience Program

Report from the World Bank on the Karnataka Water Security and Resilience Program 2025. The Program supports the state government with a loan of 426M USD (Rs. 3621 Cr) to achieve water security and resilience through three results areas (RA): RA1: Through a multi-agency approach, RA1 will incentivize BBMP to strengthen and fully integrate SWDs with lakes to create climate-resilient balancing reservoirs to dynamically retain and release water for groundwater recharge, recreation, and green zones along with storm flood management. RA2: Strengthening institutions and integrated planning. RA2 incentivizes integrated planning and institutional strengthening and reforms of disaster risk governance. The integrated planning involves water audits for 16 sub-basins across Karnataka, a comprehensive water security plan for the greater Bengaluru, and detailed sub-catchment flood management plans for Bengaluru informed by advanced flood modelling. RA3: Enhancing financial capabilities and resources of key institutions. RA3 seeks to strengthen the financing sustainability of BWSSB and BBMP. It will incentivize the improvement of BWSSB’s cost recovery through enhanced operational efficiencies, including energy efficiency, smart water meters for large volume consumers, and NRW reduction.