The stench from the river is unbearable, especially when there are no rains.
Is polluted water entering Tippagondanahalli reservoir? “Yes, water from Peenya industrial area flows down into the reservoir,” said MLA Narendra Babu on Friday, standing on the banks of a stream that flows to the reservoir.
Arkavathy takes birth in the Nandi Hills and along the way it gets polluted. The stench from the river is unbearable, especially when there are no rains, he said, during a visit he organised for media persons to the village of Channamarayanapalya.
Residents of Channamarayanapalya vouched for this. “We can smell the dirty stream a kilometre from here. It is not so bad these days because it has been raining,” said Lalitha E, a resident.
Lalitha’s family does not rely on this water, as they have a functioning borewell. However, occasionally, they used to go down to wash clothes but now prefer to keep away completely because of the stench. Lalitha says that she knows of instances when cows died after consuming this water.
Mallamma M, a cowherd from neighbouring Sowdenahalli said she drinks the water when she comes by. Apart from cough and cold, she has not faced any major issues.
“The cattle too have not had any problems after drinking the water,” she said.
“The stench is a complaint when the rains are poor. We just cannot stand it,” reiterated Srinivas C, vice-president of Gram Panchayat at Channayaganahalli.
Arkavathy flows down to Hesaraghatta, Dasarahalli, Peenya, Madawara, Kittanahalli, and then to Channamarayanapalya before joining the TG Halli reservoir. “A sample collected at the Kittanahalli bridge was tested, and the results revealed the extent of pollution,” said Jaya Simha, a sub-editor with the Karanji newspaper run by Narendra Babu.
The Congress workers stressed that it is a serious issue as the water reaches homes in Malleswaram, Yeshwanthpur, Rarajeshwarinagar, Rajajinagar, and Mahalakshmi Layout. “Just because the BWSSB filters or purifies the water, it does not mean that we allow our drinking water source to be polluted. This has to be looked into but no action has come from the board or the ministers. They have just been giving empty assurances,” they said.
The water board, however, maintains that the water does not leave the reservoir without being purified. “We check it for 24 parameters and ensure it is potable. If there is a problem, we are immediately alerted,” an engineer said.
The raw water travels several kilometres. It is vulnerable to pollution. But that too is well within the limits as per prescribed standards. That, however, should not make us comfortable.
“Pollution levels are going up. It has to be contained. Several agencies across several villages and taluks should work together to check this,” an engineer said.
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