Bangalore civic body to form committee to study water contamination

BWSSB minister S Suresh Kumar has said on Tuesday that a high-level committee will be formed to study water contamination at the Thippagondanahalli reservoir.

He was speaking at a meeting on Tuesday, where BWSSB chairman PB Ramamurthy and other department officers were present. It has been alleged that the BWSSB is supplying contaminated water from the reservoir. Mahalakshmipuram MLA NL Narendra Babu, along with other officials, held a meeting, on Monday, to discuss the matter.

Kumar said the committee would conduct an inspection to find if industrial waste is flowing into the reservoir. Officials from the industrial department, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Bangalore Urban and Rural DCs, KIADB, CEOs of zilla panchayats, and BWSSB will conduct the inspection and take corrective action to allow freshwater into the reservoir.

He said the water, which is being supplied to the city from the reservoir, is being treated and the water samples monitored daily. Citizens need not be worried as the BWSSB is supplying clean and potable water, Suresh added.

Bangalore Urban DC MK Ayappa said 13 acres had been encroached upon along the Arkavathy river bank and they have been cleared. More than 24 layouts that had come up on the banks have been removed, he said.