Will water bust the Bangalore boom

One of the ablest and honest IAS officer that Karnataka has seen in recent years, V. Balasubramanian, who retired as Additional Chief Secretary, stirred a hornest’s nest when he took on the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) over the water supply needs of Bangalore and said half of Bangalore would have to be evacuated if alternate channels to supply water to Bangalore were not explored.

Mr. Balasubramaniam said the Government would have to evacuate half of Bangalore’s population in the next ten years if  steps were not taken to redress the water scarcity and other water related problems that Bangalore faces and would continue to face.
As chairman of Centre for Policies and Practices, Bangalore, the former bureaucrat cautioned the Government against taking things in a casual manner and called for urgent steps to streamline the water supply system.

He was not far off the mark. Many cities in India have had to be evacuated after the water supply system fell into disuse. In Karnataka, the city of Bijapur, saw a mass evacuation when the ingenious water system of tanks and lakes collapsed after its fall to Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1686.

Similarly, the Mughal Emperor Akbar had to abandon his pet city, Fathepur Sikri, when the water failed. Even the greatest Mughal Emperor, with untold wealth at his disposal and also served by the best and ablest minds, could not solve the water shortage.

Bangalore too could meet the same fate if the authorities to be fail to heed the warning.     
What are the factor that could lead Bangalore towards the dooms day saying ?. Well, here are some facts.

The Hesarghatta reservoir has completely dried up and the TG halli reservoir too is going the same way. The Hesarghatta first went completely dry in 1925 and the then Mysore Government took steps to provide drinking water from the Yelemallappa Chetty Tank, Byatha and Kakol Tanks. When this proved inadequate, the TG Halli was commissioned in 1933.

When TG Halli too proved inadequate, the Government decided to tap Cauvery in the 1970s. Today, Cauvery meets most of the needs of Bangalore but there can be no further drawal from Cauvery as the State has already reached the limits of water drawal prescribed for Karnataka for drinking water by the Cauvery River Water Tribunal.
Bangalore once had hundreds of lakes and today there are just a handful and even they are facing threats from urbanization and Government apathy.

Even as late as 1971, Bangalore has 260 lakes, Today, there are hardly 60 and most of them are highly polluted.  

The storm water drains are clogged and they need to be renovated and repaired. The water channels connecting the exisiting lakes need to be restored and encroachments around lakes removed. Some wetlands need to be restored.

A study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bangalore, says many dry tanks on the outskirts of the City have been encroached upon either for real estate or for agriculture.

It says conversion of farm land and encroachment of water channels in and around wetlands have weakened connectivity between Yelchenahalli and Madivala lakes and they have almost been lost.
The Public Health Institute, and the Department of Mines and Geology, Karnataka, has shown that 52 per cent of the borewell water and 59 per cent of the tap water in Bangalore is undrinkable. Shockingly, they contain 8.4 per cent and 19 per cent E.coli bacteria respectively.

Borewells, which have proliferated in the last decade and are a major cause of deepening water table in Bangalore, can only supply contaminated water. There are more than 4 lakhs borewell and only half of them are registered. The drawal of underground water is 3.7 times more than the recharge from the city’s annual rainfall 900 mm.
No wonder, the borewells have gone deeper, up to 1,250 feet and hundreds of  borewells have become dry. Moreover, the 600 lakes of Bangalore urban district have all become sewage tanks and this is highlighted in Volume 2 of Excreta Matters published  by Centre for Science & Environment, Delhi, 2011. This is study of water of 71 cities in India.

The 850 kilometres of old Raja Kaluves or storm water drains were conceived to transport surplus water from higher elevation lakes to lower levels in the Karanji system or a cascading system of natural rain water harvesting. Instead, they now carry sewage, debris, sullage and filth. Besides, the existing fourteen Secondary treatment plants, four tertiary treatment plants and ten more STPs under construction will together have a capacity to treat 1,133 MLD of waste water. However, all the existing STPs hardly treat 30 per cent of the sewage because of sewage is not flowing into the STPs but into the lakes and other water bodies. Moreover, there is no demand for treated water and it is let back into the polluted water channels and water bodies.

The sewage has to diverted away from the Raja Kaluves and they have to be treated before being let into lakes and tanks. Only then can Raja Kaluves carry rainwater to the lakes. If not., the lakes and water bodies will continue to be cess pools of filth, debris, sewage and foul smelling liquid with high health hazard.

Rainwater harvesting is yet to take off despite a law making it mandatory. It now covers just 50,000 houses out of some 18 lakh properties. Surveys have shown that only 40 per cent of  Bangalore is covered by roofs and if rain water harvesting is to be effective, it should be done on a geographical basis covering all the four basins areas or natural valleys of Bangalore, including Vrishabhavati and  Hebbal.

The Vrishabhavati, which takes birth in Bangalore, is polluted and the river has practically died. It needs to be urgently revived if the ground water level has to be recharged. The Arkavathi, which flows near Bangalore too needs to be cleaned up.

BWSSB Chairman Gaurav Das Gupta has gone on record that the peripheral areas of Bengaluru do not and will not have water for the upcoming years.

Gaurav Gupta was speaking at a discussion on­ “The Critical water situation in Bangalore- The way forward”,  conducted by Bangalore International Centre at Domlur.

It was at this meet that Balasubramanian had spoken about the water crisis. Acknowledging the water crisis, the BWSSB Chairman himself said  “If you are thinking of  purchasing or staying in a property in Bangalore, especially in the peripheral areas and in the suburbs, take them at your own risk! We really don’t have water for those areas.”

He said there are plans to provide water for peripheral areas of Yelahanka, K R Puram and Kengeri. But beyond that the BWSSB cannot supply water.

How do you tackle these problems.

Leakages, which are almost 50 per cent, needs to be urgently plugged. Alternate sources have to be tapped and rain water harvesting should be compulsory. Encroachment of  tanks, lakes and water bodies should be removed forthwith and borewell drilling has to be regulated. Raja Kaluvas have to be restored. Only then will Balasubramaniam’s remarks remain a mere statement. If not, it will become a reality.  

A fish out of water

It is one of the largest manmade lake in south East Asia and it is also perhaps the only water body which froths and foams regularly, thanks to unchecked pollutants which still continue to pour into the water body.

Just three decades ago, this water body had such a clear and clean waterline that you could spot a coin if you tossed it into the lake. It was also the place where Bangalore has its biggest lake fish market. The lake is just two kms from the Koramanangla valley and it once stored 17.66 million cubic feet of water.

Apart from the fish market, the lake was the lifeline of scores of villages and it supplied them potable water apart from irrigating thousands of acres. The waters helped grow rice and vegetables.

This is the once famous Bellandur lake, whose origin is still a mystery. While some put it at 140 years, others say Kempe Gowda, the second, built it more than 500 years ago. The lake survived till 1980 when growing urbanization led to its death.

The Bellandur lake is part of the Bellandur Ammanakere, Iblur, Kempapura, Agara and Bellur water bodies. Rain water from  Koramangala valley flowed into Bellandur lake and from there excess water entered Varthur Lake through waste weirs at Bellandur and Kempapura villages.

The  lake was the lifeline of more than 18 villages. While villagers of Bellandur and Kariamana Agrahara focused on agriculture and growing vegetables, residents of Yemlur and Kempapura made their livelihood by fishing.

Agriculture continued around the water body till the area comprising 330 acres was taken over by the BBMP which ten forbid farming. However, even today, one can see remnants of paddy farming downstream of the water body.

Fishing, agriculture and other activities continued in and around Bellandur till 1980. Since then, the decline began and this coincided with the growing urbanization of Bangalore. The death of the lake commenced when the authorities began thinking of expanding the HAL Airport and in no time development took over the area adjacent to HAL and surrounding areas.

The growing urbanisation took its toll and unchecked encroachment coupled with lax pollution norms, greed for real estate, BWSSB letting untreated sewage flow into the once pristine water body led to the degeneration of the lake.

The lake, which has a recorded history of more than 140 years, is today spread over 900 acres. The Bellandur lake is today a lake only in name. It froths and foams so regularly that it has ceased to surprise the populace.

The detergents and chemicals have combined to make the water body a frothy mass. What is more alarming is that despite all tall claims of  having spent crores of rupees on its revival and rejuvenation, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has nailed the lie and said all such plans have been halted midway, leading to wastage of  Rs. 1.9 crores already spent for the purpose.  

The CAG report is in public domain and it has studied the plan drawn up to revive the water body. The CAG has noted that though the water body received Rs 5.54 crore from the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP), only Rs 1.91 crore has been spent and even that too has been taken up in a half hearted manner.

The report has held as responsible the Lake Development Authority (LDA) for its failure to stop the inflow of sewage into Bellandur lake and also divert sewage from the water body.

It says the plan to revive and rejuvenate Bellandur lake was sanctioned in January 2003. The project was expected to be completed by August 2004. But no such ting happened and untreated sewage continued to flow into the water body.
The LDA had been asked to take up charge of the revival but the CAG notes that the LDA failed to stop sewage from entering into the lake.

With 400 million litres to 500 million litres of sewage entering the lake on an average every day, the revival failed to take off.

The lake provided water to residents of 18 villages including Siddapura, Gunjur, Bellandur, Belur, Haralur, Hanathuru, Aambalapura, Kudlu, Balagere, Kempapura, Devara Bisanahalli, Kadu Bisanahalli, Yamlur, Nagasandra, Ramagondinahalli, Munne Kolalu, Kariyammana Agrahara and Bhoganahalli. Now, the lake is more of a bane than a boon and its polluted waters have kept even animals away.
Apart from the failed revival plan, the authorities have also miserably failed to revive fishing in the water body. Bellandur tank so well known for its fishes that even members of the fishing community from neighbouring districts of Kolar, Tumkur and other states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu came down and settled nearby.  The fishing community, especially on the northern shore, was a prosperous one and at least 108 families were totally dependent on fishing for their livelihood. Most of the fishermen belonged to the Tigala and Muslim communities.  

Bellandur was once know for its catfish and it had many takers in the City. Apart from catfish, the water body also hosted several other varieties.

The fishing activity in Bellandur and Kempapura was well known in Bangalore till the 1980s after which it went into a decline. Even today, the remnants of the  fish market can be seen near the bund of the lake.

Today, the water body is gasping for life, just like a fish out of water. The lake is on its last legs and it has lost its character to fight pollution on its own. It is gasping for life and it is for us to either give it back its life or take it away. Which will it be. Only time will tell.?   

The lake of Lalbagh

Many lakes in Bangalore have fallen prey to the greed for land. While scores of lakes and tanks such as Dharmambudhi lake, Millers Tank, Sampangiramanagar tank, Shooley tank have been breached due to the short sighted policies of the civic agencies, many others have been encroached upon and some like Kempambudhi and Byresandra are fighting a battle for survival. However, one of the few lakes in Bangalore that faces no threat from encroachment or from the civic agencies is the Lalbagh lake or the lake within the Lalbagh premises that goes by the name of the park.

This is not to say that the Lalbagh lake is free of problems. A few years ago, sewage from Siddapura and surrounding areas were being let into the lake and this had led to the death of fishes apart from choking the water body. A sewage treatment plant was set up and sewage diverted. This has helped the lake survive.

This is the biggest water body in Lalbagh and as per oral history it predated the establishment of the botanical gardens by Hyder Ali in 1760. In fact, it is believed that the lake was one of the reasons for Hyder to set up the park.

Others say that the then Superintendent of Lalbagh, James Cameroon, commissioned the lake in 1890 to provide water to the gardens. Whatever the truth, it stands to reason that the water body can become the lifeline of Lalbagh if the water is properly utilised. However, we can credit Cameroon with development of the lake and its surroundings. It was Cameroon who built the bund, fixed attractive and ornamental steps leading to the tank and also set up a waste weir.

Today, the surroundings have been further beautified and the inner side of the bund plastered with stones and a walking path created around the lake. Flowering trees have been planted along the path. Do you see the two islands in the lake? These islands formed naturally while the lake was being de-silting some years ago.

Today, these two islands, though small, are a haven for birds, some of them migratory, who visit Lalbagh.

The lake is situated close to Lalbagh’s West gate and Siddapura. It is set in nearly 40 acres. Over the last few years, it has become a bird watchers paradise. If you manage to go to the lake early in the morning, you can easily spot birds such as White-breasted Kingfisher, Egret, Commorant, Brahmini Kite and Parakeet.

Besides, ducks, herons and colourful black and white Pelicans crowd the lake.

Its catchment areas is just one sq kms. It has a small walk bridge  at the eastern end or the approach from the Siddapura Gate.

The lake is actually connected to two small ponds on its northern and western corners. One of the pond is known as Lotus Pond and the other is the Sunken Pond. These ponds have become dry in recent years and are silted.

A few years ago, the lake had fully silted and was full of water  hyacinth and other weeds. They were cleared and today they water looks more healthy than it did a few years ago.

There is no boating. Almost all the trees around the lake are hundred or more years old. The water body helps recharge water to ten borewells in the vicinity.
The Lalbagh lake was the first water body in the State where Vetiveria Zizanioides or Khus grass was used extensively to keep the lake clean. The experiment was first taken up by the Department of Horticulture

The sewage that floods our Anjeneya

It is one of the most famous temples of Bangalore and hundreds of devotees flock to it every day. The number goes up substantially on Sundays and holidays.

A few decades ago, anyone entering Bangalore from Mysore Road would first go to the temple and then enter the City. Politicians, businessmen and industrialists made it a point to seek the blessings of the deity and then start out on their ventures.

The temple became so famous that its fame spread far and wide. Alas, for the last few years, the temple has seen an annual occurrence that it could do without. Every time it rained, the storm water drain next to the temple overflowed and entered the temple premises.

The last several years have seen sewage water and garbage from the storm water drain flow into the temple and even enter the sanctum sanctorum. Several Chief Ministers right from the time of  Dharam Singh, H.D. Kumara Swamy and  B.S. Yeddyuruppa have come and gone but there seems no end to the problem.

It is only this time or rather this year when Bangalore received less than average rains that the Gali Anjeneya Temple on Mysore Road did not have any major problem of flooding.

The Gali Anjeneya Temple is one of the oldest temples in Bangalore and the Madhwa saint Vyasa Theertha of Vyasaraja Matha consecrated the idol of Hanuman more than five hundred years ago.

This was one of the 732 Hanuman temples that Vyasa Theertha consecrated all over India. While several hundred Anjeneyas were consecrated in Penukonda, Bangalore has several Vyasa Prathistha Hanuman temples.

The Hanuman Temple opposite the Minto Eye hospital, the Kote Anjeneya Temple, the Pranadevaru Temple at JP Nagar 6^th Block, and the beautiful and recently renovated temple of Hanuman near Yelahanka on the Yelahanka-Doddaballapur road are some of the other structures consecrated centuries ago by Vyasa Theertha.

The Gali Anjeneya Temple stands adjacent to the Vrishabhavathi river which today is nothing more than a storm water drain. With  almost all this drain network clogged by debris and sewage, the drainage water inundated the temple regularly and the Vrishabhavathi regularly breached the compound wall.

The filth and garbage had to be cleaned up from the temple regularly and even the priests had to lend a helping hand in this exercise.

Though several promise were made to rectify the issue, none of them seem to have gone to the root of the problem. It was only some time back that an elected representative from Bangalore took time off to look into the issue and suggest a simple solution.

One of the Members of the Legislative Council (MLC), Ashwathnarayanam decided to see why and how the waters from the storm water drain and the Vrishabhavathi enter the temple.

He went around the network of drains and canals that lead to the Vrishibhavati river and found that the flooding occurred due to a simple reason.

He found that one of the major canals from the Kempambhudhi lake, which is behind Kempegowda Nagar, was the reason for the frequent flooding.  The flood gates lake, which is upstream, were kept open to ensure that water did not stagnate in the lake.

So when rains came and water started collecting in the lake, it immediately moved out towards the Vrishabhavathi river. Thus, instead of holding excess rain water, the Kempembudhi Lake discharged more and more water, swelling the Vrishabhavathi river.

Already filled with garbage and debris, the river would overflow the embankment at Gali Anjeneya Temple and enter the structure.   
Another problem is that the Kempambudhi lake is connected by a network of drains from nearby Gavipuram Guttahalli, Chamarajpet, Shankarpuram, Basavanagudi and surrounding areas including Hanumanthanagar, Srinagar and other localities.

It is estimated that during the monsoon, these drains pump in at least 1850 cusecs of water  every day into the lake. And almost the entire quantity goes out as the crest gates of the tank is kept open.

The civic authorities have hot upon a solution to ensure that the temple is not flooded. They have decided to close the gate and let out water from the tank only after it fills up to a certain extent. This step would lessen the pressure on the Vrishabhvathi and also lead to steady discharge of water, avoiding flooding of  the temple.