Never said our sewage flowing to Tamil Nadu: Karnataka Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi
Chennai: A day after the southern bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) issues notice to Government of Karnataka on the alleged pollution of River Cauvery because of sewage generated by Bengaluru city, Karnataka Minister for Minor Irrigation Shivaraj Tangadagi said had never made a statement that Bengaluru’s untreated sewage was flowing into Tamil Nadu through Cauvery river courses.
“I have been misquoted. I was replying to queries from members of the Upper House and elaborated on measures that were being taken to filter and treat sewage water at Koramangala and Korattur to fill the parched lakes in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts”, Mr Tangadagi told Deccan Chronicle.
Karnataka has approved a lift irrigation project at a cost of Rs 42 crore to utilise the sewage water that flows through the Varthur valley (erstwhile Dakshina Pinakini River) to fill up as many as 26 dry lakes in Chikkaballapura and 108 lakes in Kolar.
“Currently, a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared by my department in consultation with the experts. However, it will take some time to issue the work orders as it is in the initial stage. We propose to undertake secondary treatment of the sewage water and fill the lakes in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts”, he said.
To a query, the minister said he hasn’t seen the petition copy filed in NGT to comment. An official in Karnataka Water Resources Department said the project was initially proposed in the year 2012 and the MP from Krishnagiri E.G. Sugavanam has raised objection to the project in parliament saying Karnataka was building a check dam.
Lawyer moves NGT
Based on a Deccan Chronicle report published on May 9, 2015 titled Karnataka sending sewage down Cauvery to Tamil Nadu, a Chennai-based advocate has moved National Green Tribunal (NGT) southern bench to prevent Karnataka from dumping untreated or partially treated sewage generated by households in Bengaluru city into canals and channels that merge with River Cauvery. The case is coming-up for admission in the NGT first bench.
