Masterclass for Stormwater
On the 9th of January, 2026, we kickstarted our public engagements for the year with a masterclass on stormwater drains, held along with the Oorvani Foundation, followed by a guided walk to audit the stormwater drain C100 starting at Ulsoor Gurudwara.
Over the last few decades of Bengaluru’s rapid growth, stormwater systems have quietly absorbed the burden of multiple urban failures. In the absence of comprehensive sewer networks, effective solid waste management, and coordinated governance, stormwater drains have become default carriers of sewage, waste, and excess runoff, far beyond what they were ever designed to handle.
As the city expanded, these natural drainage channels were increasingly channelised, concretised, and built over, prioritising speed and land efficiency over hydrological function. What were once open, interconnected water systems tied to the city’s valleys and lakes were reduced to isolated engineering elements, often invisible, inaccessible, and poorly understood.
At the same time, this period has also witnessed a growing public and institutional awareness around water, ecology, and climate risk. Citizen movements, environmental advocacy, and judicial interventions have played a critical role in bringing stormwater drains back into public consciousness—through court orders for protection, the establishment of buffer zones, Lake rejuvenation projects and groups, and renewed conversations around encroachments, lake connectivity, and flood resilience.
This masterclass sits at the intersection of these two trajectories: a legacy of infrastructural stress and neglect, and a growing urgency to rethink how urban water systems function and are governed. Drawing from Bengaluru’s context and global examples, the session introduces how cities around the world are rethinking the fundamentals of stormwater management to adapt to climate change and build long-term resilience.
This masterclass is open to residents, students, professionals, practitioners, and anyone curious about how the city works. No technical background is required. The session is designed to be accessible, visual, and grounded in everyday urban experience.
Before reimagining these systems, the masterclass emphasises documentation—understanding what exists today, who governs and maintains it, and how growth pressures are addressed. This learning leads into guided citizen audits, where participants help build a shared evidence base and turn everyday observation into meaningful civic action.
You can access the masterclass presentation and recorded video below:
