With legal limitations on drawing more water from river Cauvery and Tippagondanahalli (TG Halli) reservoir being almost dry, the state government is turning to new water sources to quench Bangalore’s thirst and ensure that the future is not dry.
The state is planning to tap the westward flowing river, Honganahole in Kodagu district, to meet the city’s water demands. It has already directed officials to conduct a survey and prepare a feasibility report.
“To meet the ever-growing demand for drinking in Bangalore city, we are planning to get eight thousand million cubic feet (tmc) of water from Honganahole, near Ponnnampet in Virajpet taluk,” large and medium irrigation minister Basavarja Bommai said. “It has 103 sq km catchment area. We are planning to first bring water to Lakshmana Theerta and then to Bangalore through pipes,” he said.
The Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal had said that Karnataka could draw 19 tmc of water from Cauvery for supply to Bangalore city.
About 13 tmc is already being supplied from the river. The city will get the remaining six tmc after the Cauvery Stage IV project is completed.
If Cauvery Stage IV is also exhausted, the state will have no other source of water for the city.
The decision to tap Honganahole is a move to ensure that the city has enough water in the future.
To a question on the rejuvenation of Arkavathy river, he said, “We have ordered a survey of the catchment areas of Arkavathy, Kumadvati and Hesarghatta valleys. We have received a report on Hesarghatta. According to the report, 22% of the TG Halli’s catchment area is covered by eucalyptus and other trees (which suck up groundwater).
This has reduced the flow of water,” he said. “A study report has recommended the regulation of groundwater exploitation, restriction of further spread of exotic plantations like eucalyptus, casuarina, etc, restoration of river/tributary courses and tanks, setting up of an authority for enforcing the regulations in TG Halli reservoir catchment area,” Bommai said.
