Kolar: After the water released from the controversial Koramangala-Challaghatta (KC) Valley Project allegedly polluted the Lakshmisagara Tank in Kolar on July 18, the activists from Kolar have threatened to supply the water to the legislators from the district as a reminder.
Activists of the Shashwatha Neeravari Horata Samiti said that one tanker each of the froth-filled water will be sent to the houses of MLAs in Kolar. This unique form of protest was to awaken the people’s representatives to the gravity of the situation, the Samiti said.
By supplying the treated water from Bengaluru, the KC Valley project aims to alleviate the water shortage in the district. However, activists in Kolar say that the project would pollute the groundwater levels in the district, citing several study reports. A study report by a scientist at the Centre for Ecological Science, Indian Institute of Science T V Ramachandra observed that allowing partially treated water would “aggravate the water crisis” in the Kolar and Chikballapur districts. The study said that the partially treated water would seep into the depleting groundwater “rapidly leading to further deterioration of groundwater (which already has nitrate and fluoride contamination).”
The activists accused the project authorities of releasing the secondary treated water. In the wastewater treatment process, the secondary treatment uses biological treatment process to remove organic debris (living matter) from the wastewater. Tertiary water treatment removes inorganic molecules such as the phosphates and nitrates that are usually found in detergents. Tertiary treated water is free from the frothing substances and is believed to be suitable for general use.
Tha activists alleged that repeated petitions and complaints made to the representatives had fallen on deaf ears. “Not even a single MLA has questioned the project,” said an activist of the Samiti. There are six MLAs from Kolar each representing the people of Malur, Mulbagil, Bangarpet, Kolar, Srinivaspura and Kolar Gold Fields constituencies.
The Samiti also accused that the froth observed in the six tanks filled so far confirms the Samiti’s initial apprehensions about the project polluting the already scarce water. People of Kolar and Chikballapur districts are dependent on the groundwater for their drinking needs. “Once the groundwater is polluted, there is nothing we can do to undo the damage,” the activists said.
A member of the Samiti, Anjaneya Reddy, filed a PIL before the Karnataka High Court on June 18 questioning the government’s approval for the KC Valley project. The case is scheduled to be heard by the court on Monday, July 23.
