Karnataka: Drop Pathala Ganga, save environment, says BJP MLA Suresh Kumar

Bengaluru: Concerned over the state government’s proposal to take up ‘Pathala Ganga’ scheme, former minister and BJP MLA Suresh Kumar has suggested that the project be shelved to safeguard the environment.

In a letter to Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H.K. Patil which was released to the media, he said going ahead with this project was nothing short of making Karnataka another ‘Pavagada’ (in Kolar district) where the water table has dropped below 2,000 feet. Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra had opposed this scheme contending that it would cause irrepairable damage to the environment. Going 4,000 feet to 5,000 feet below the earth to draw water was not a solution to water crisis. Already, people were experiencing the ill effects of drawing underground water through borewells.

Mr Suresh Kumar referred to Mr Patil’s statement in Swarnavalli Math that the government will go ahead with the pilot project come what may and said it was not a good move.