No Cauvery water will be left in the state’s reservoirs by December to cater to the drinking water needs of Bangalore, said urban development and BWSSB minister S Suresh Kumar on Wednesday.
Presenting a grim picture on the water front owing to compulsions of releasing water to Tamil Nadu, he said the present storage in the reservoirs in Cauvery basin can last only till November-end. He told presspersons the government would have to find a way out and at present, he could see no solution to the huge, impending problem.
“Currently, 900 MLD water is being supplied from KRS dam in Mandya and Kabini reservoir in Chamarajanagar district to Bangalore. It was planned to supply additional 500 MLD of water to the newly added areas of the BBMP through Cauvery IV Stage II Phase project, which has been just completed. The trial run for water supply to these areas was conducted recently.
“Since there is no water for regular supply to the core areas of the BBMP, the question of bringing more water to newly added BBMP areas on the city’s outskirts does not arise. Water level in Kabini reservoir has already hit the lowest level and the water left in KRS dam will be sufficient only till December. We will have to wait for the next rainy season to get water in these dams,” Suresh Kumar said.
When asked about forced closure of TK Halli pumping station—which supplies water to Bangalore—for two hours by farmers, Suresh Kumar said he cannot object to the protest.
He said Cauvery water is utilised to the hilt by Bangaloreeans, but the people of the city are not joining the protest to condemn the central government’s decision. That has angered the farmers of Mandya, who are leading the protest, he said.
The state government will have to find new means to cater to the water needs of Bangalore city and also Mysore, Mandya and Chamarajnagar districts. With no prospects of rains in near future, it will be the biggest challenge for the administration to ensure at least minimum water supply for these cities.
