Bengaluru: The government, which was left with no choice but to admit its lapses where the diversion of the Varthur water to Kolar lakes was concerned in the face of the frothing evidence presented by these water bodies, now finds a similar project for Anekal under close watch.
Mr M Ravindrappa, chief engineer, Minor Irrigation department, however, assures that the mistakes of Kolar will not be repeated in Anekal. “We plan to divert 120 MLD of water to Anekal but the mistake of Kolar will not be repeated. The water will be sent to Anekal only after secondary treatment,” he promises.
Whether the government will keep to its word will take another year to see as the Anekal project is slated to take 12 months to complete. But the authorities concerned have already been pulled up by Lokayukta, Justice Vishwanath Shetty, who emphasised recently that clean water was the fundamental right of every individual while referring to the Kolar issue.
The Lokayukta also called for investigation of the effects of contaminated water discharged from the lakes of Bengaluru on growing of vegetables in the district. And now the secretary , Minor Irrigation Department, commissioners of the BBMP and BDA and the chairmen of BWSSB and KSPCB have been summoned by the Lokayukta on September 4 to answer concerns about the contamination of the food grown in Kolar.
Namma Bengaluru Foundation, CEO, Sridhar Pabbisetty believes that a thorough review must be done of the entire process of diversion of water from Bengaluru’s lakes to Kolar to avoid a repeat of the unfortunate incident. “Accountability has to be fixed. It is unfortunate that the BWSSB, Minor Irrigation department and the KSPCB failed in their duties to protect the environment and the interest of farmers and villagers,” he regrets.
