Forget Cauvery, lakes will quench thirst

Forget Cauvery, lakes will quench thirst

In five months, city will get water for domestic purposes from lakes that are being rejuvenated, says CM

Bosky Khanna. Bangalore



The state government is thinking of tapping into lakes to cut down the dependence on Cauvery for drinking water in the city. Water from the lakes may, in fact, flow into city households in five months.
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) are rejuvenating five lakes in the city to recharge groundwater and ensure water in borewells, thus reducing the demand for Cauvery water, officials said.
"The idea behind rejuvenating lakes is to make their water available for various domestic purposes," chief minister BS Yeddyurappa said on Wednesday. He admitted that the city was facing a major water crisis.
"Cauvery water is overly exploited. We want some of the demand for water to be met from the city's resources itself," Yeddyurappa told DNA during his visit to five lakes that are being rejuvenated in the city.
Ullal, Malathahalli, Sompura and Konasandra lakes are being restored by the BDA. The BBMP will develop the fifth, Gandhinagar Hosakere. The BDA has been given the task of developing 12 lakes in the city in all. It will be given 25 more lakes (see box).
"A meeting will soon be held to discuss the feasibility of making lake water available for drinking," Yeddyurappa said. "For other needs, the supply of lake water is likely to start in five months."
To use lake water for potable and non-potable purposes there needed to be proper inflow to the lakes, BWSSB chairman PB Ramamurthy said. "To ensure inflow, sewerage and drainage lines are being connected to the lakes," he said. Sewage treatment plants were being set up to treat water entering the lakes, he said.
Once lakes were rejuvenated and groundwater level increased, people would use borewell more since they would realise that Cauvery water was expensive, officials said.