Panel submits report on reviving Arkavathi river

The Committee on Arkavathi River Rejuvenation on Tuesday came out with some suggestions and recommendations for rejuvenating the river.

At a seminar organised by the committee at Gandhi Bhavan, the committee, under the leadership of Rajendra Singh, a water expert aka India’s Water Gandhi, advised the state government to ensure coordination among all the departments that are expected to involve in rejuvenation work of Arkavathi River.

“We want the state government to stop sand mining and quarrying in Arkavathi basin immediately. The state government should ensure land use pattern and take measures to control pollution around Arkavathi basin,” the committee said.

Earlier, Singh said encroachment by government and society, pollution and mining activities were the main reasons for the current status of Arkavathi. “If all goes well, I have no doubt on the rejuvenation of Arkavathi river within three years,” he said.

Coming down heavily on the state government for acquiring thousands of acres of land for Information Technology Investment Region, he said the government cannot constitute Arkavathi River Authority on one hand and acquire thousands of acres of land for setting up ITIR.