Comprehensive plan for sewage control in the valley in the first phase
Initial step for Vrishabhavati river rejuvenation
Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್
Bengaluru: BBMP has taken the initial step to prepare a plan for the revitalization of Vrishabhavati river, just as it has taken steps to revive the Suvarnamukhi river, which flows out of sync with the city's outskirts.
When Shalini Rajneesh was the Development Commissioner, she had formed a committee comprising officials from all departments in May 2024 to revive the Suvarnamukhi river. P.C. Ray, Principal Secretary to the Government of the Forest, Habitat and Environment Department, was appointed as the nodal officer for the implementation of the 'Suvarnamukhi River Basin Revival Project'. While that project is being implemented, the government has instructed the BBMP to prepare a plan for the revitalization of the Vrishabhavati river in Bengaluru, which has been awaited for centuries.
In the wake of this instruction, a meeting of BBMP senior officers, engineers, water board, State Pollution Control Board officials, and District Collector's office officials was held on Saturday under the leadership of BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath.
'The water in the lakes, whether developed or not, within the BBMP limits is not suitable for drinking or bathing. Even after treatment, it is not of drinking quality. All the lakes are in 'E' pollution level and are not suitable for any use,' the report presented in detail stated in the meeting.
Although potable water has been made to flow in the Vrishabhavati river or valley, the main objective of the project is to manage it so that groundwater is not polluted by flowing unpolluted water. In this regard, the responsibility has been given to the officers who will prepare a comprehensive report in every possible way in another month.
If the Vrishabhavati valley is to be free from pollution, the operation of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board is of utmost importance. Therefore, the Water Board has been instructed to submit a comprehensive report to make the Vrishabhavati River pollution-free.
Out of 56 lakes, 14 lakes have been destroyed!
Vrishabhavati, Koramangala-Challaghatta, Hebbal and Arkavati valleys are located in the city. Out of the four valleys, Vrishabhavati valley has 32% coverage. It has been recorded in the preliminary report of the ‘Vrishabhavati River Revitalization Project’ that there are 56 lakes in this valley area as per the old land records.
14 lakes including Shivanahalli, Saneguruvanahalli, Shivanahalli are currently leveled in the Vrishabhavati valley area. Although 42 lakes with water have been identified, the survey information of Palace Maidan Lake, Kempambudhi Lake, Basavappanakatte, Srigandhada Kavalu, Varahasandra Lakes is not included in the report.
The report states that there is no water in the lakes of Pillappanahalli, Nagarabhavi, Kenchenahalli, Hosakerehalli, Yediyur, Gowdanapalya, Bikasipura, Gubbalalu, Mailasandra, Byapanapalya Kunte. Many of these lakes have been developed by the BBMP. However, the survey records are not available due to the negligence of the Revenue Department.
Vrishabhavati River/Valley Information
- 39.53 km; River flow in BBMP area
- 326 canals; Number of valleys in the municipality
- 327 km; Total length of valleys in BBMP area
- 42 lakes; Valleys in the municipality area
- 192.70 sq km; River area in BBMP area
- 19.8 km; River flow from BBMP to Bairamangala reservoir
Vrishabhavati valley flow
- 14.04 km; Sankey Lake to Bangalore University
- 58.88 sq km; Catchment area
- 14.04 km; Goragunte Palya (Peenya Metro Station) to Bangalore University
- 32.85 sq km; Catchment area
- 11.45 km; Bangalore University to Kengeri (Nice Road)
- 160 sq km; Catchment area
Instruction to formulate a comprehensive plan
‘The corporation, water board, pollution control board and water board officials have been instructed to formulate a comprehensive plan to prevent sewage from entering the Vrishabhavati valley and polluting it,’ said BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath.
‘The places where sewage is coming into the Vrishabhavati Valley should be checked and listed. Also, it should be checked how many apartments are near the river and how much sewage is coming directly into the river. It has also been suggested to check the functioning of sewage treatment plants (STPs),’ he said.
‘The water board has been asked to provide information on how many STPs are functioning. In addition to information on how many new STPs are needed, it has been asked to provide information on where steps have been taken to ensure that sewage goes to the STPs through pipes,’ he said.
‘There are 42 lakes adjacent to the Vrishabhavati Valley, and the encroachment in them has been surveyed and orders have been obtained from the District Collector to remove the encroachment,’ he said.
Fencing should be installed where necessary to prevent garbage from being thrown into the Vrishabhavati Valley. He said that the officials have been told to dredge it using JCBs.
