Bengaluru: Birds are dying and plants are drying at Cubbon Park, but the authorities are letting treated water from the park to be sold to the Race Course, Golf Course and Vidhana Soudha, ignoring the pleas of regular visitors to the city’s biggest lung space.
“Cubbon Park has a waste water treatment plant and it is meant to supply water to 300 acres of the park. Instead, it is being sold,” complained Umesh Kumar, President of the Cubbon Park Walkers’ Association.
“These places are mostly commercial and are accessible only to few, while Cubbon Park is public. It needs water more than the other places. But the Horticulture Department is not bothered,” he said.
The waste water recycling unit at the park, set up by the BWSSB, has a capacity to treat 1.5 million litres of water per day (MLD).
Deputy Director of Cubbon Park Mahantesh Murgod told Deccan Chronicle, “We have written to the plant joint director, commissioner and others requesting them for more water. Cubbon Park needs at least 1.5 MLD. But the BWSSB is selling the treated water to Vidhana Soudha, High Court, Raj Bhavan, Golf Course and other places.” He denied that water is being sent to the race course. BWSSB Executive Engineer Jayalakshmi said, “The maximum amount of water from the treatment plant is given to Cubbon Park. They only use 1 MLD and sometimes 0.3 MLD. I have the records for the last 10 years. If they want more, why are they not taking it? They have access to water all day.”
She said, “This is a loss, as the park is not buying treated water. We also have maintenance and operational costs. Whatever is remaining each day is sold to Raj Bhavan, High Court and rarely the golf course. We charge Rs 20 per kilo litre. Why don't they sign an agreement with us to allot maximum water for Cubbon Park?”
She said, by December-end, the plant will expand its capacity and the treated water then will be supplied to all places, with no dearth of water for any park, government building or commercial space.
