Just one foot of water remaining in TG Halli reservoir

The water level in Thippagondanahalli reservoir is fast depleting, with only one foot of water left for the city’s consumption. The water level is now at 13 feet, while the cut off is 12 feet. This is likely to affect several parts of west Bangalore that are dependent on the reservoir for their drinking water needs.

This has left officials of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) no choice but to reduce the supply of Cauvery water to other areas of the city and divert it to the affected parts to manage the crisis.

A senior BWSSB official told DNA that part of the 900 mld (million litres a day) of Cauvery water would be diverted to west Bangalore, including areas like Malleswaram and Rajajinagar, once the supply from TG Halli reservoir stops. “We have not yet quantified the number of litres from the Cauvery water source that would be diverted every day, but we will ensure that it doesn’t affect people in other parts of the city,” the official said.

The water board took this decision after BWSSB minister Katta Subramanya Naidu visited TG Halli on Tuesday to check the water status. “The minister directed the BWSSB chairman to come up with alternatives once the supply from TG Halli stops,” said a source from the minister’s office.

The source added that corporators of Rajajinagar and Malleswaram wards stressed for a formula to address the crisis.
While officials were busy chalking out alternatives for west Bangalore, corporators of wards in the area were facing the heat from residents. Rajajinagar corporator HR Krishnappa said that people came to him everyday with pleas to solve the water woes.

“There is a need to divert Cauvery water to Rajajinagar at least once a week. I don’t think this will burden the other parts of Bangalore,” he said.

Sources at BWSSB said that some corporators of wards in west Bangalore were already taking Cauvery water to their areas by pressurising officials at the water board.

However, not all corporators were lucky enough. Malleswaram corporator N Jayapal said that he had lost all hope of getting water either from TG Halli or Cauvery to his ward. “The only solution to the water issue here is borewells. I have initiated flushing work at nine borewells in the ward. Four of them are working well. Despite all the initiative, authorities are yet to respond to my request to install new motors, though orders were placed nearly 20 days ago,” he said.

It’s not just the corporators, even residents were fed up with the hefty process they had to pay to tankers each day to cater to their water needs. “One tanker costs Rs400 per trip, and if he has to stop at a place for a longer time, he demands an extra Rs200,” said ML Sujatha, a resident of Malleswaram.