As instructed by the High Court, EMPRI submitted the advisory report in 2015; Ignoring eco-friendly advice: a thorn in Thippagondanahalli watershed
TG Halli BUFFER Change: Violation of EMPRI's report
Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್
BENGALURU: Although the Forest Department's Environment Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) had goven a report saying that no change should be made in the buffer zone of the Thippagondanahalli watershed, the state government violated it in 2019.
The new order was issued three days before the fall of the Congress-JDS alliance government, reducing the buffer zone.
In 2013, some people filed an appeal in the High Court challenging the order issued by the government in 2003 for the conservation of Thippagondanahalli reservoir and watershed. The High Court directed Empree to submit a ground truth report. In August 2015, Empri submitted a report to the High Court.
There are 550 villages, Doddaballapur, Peenya, Sompur, Dabaspet industrial areas in Zone-1 of Thippagondanahalli watershed. In these areas, wastes from residential and industrial areas are directly entering the river flow. Apart from this, solid waste and construction waste are also being dumped. In Zone-2, there are 33 villages in four taluks, 19 barangays and two warehouses have been constructed. These have changed the flow of the river itself.
In zone-3 and zone-4 natural channel is getting damaged due to sand mining, stone mining. Solid and liquid wastes are directly reaching the reservoir water. Water is being misused in this part for industry and agriculture. Empri reported that the industries in the Arkavati River have directly discharged their chemical wastes into the river, making the water extremely polluted.
The EMPRI, which has given dozens of suggestions, including what steps should be taken to revive the river, has said that the buffer zone should be preserved as per the 2003 order until a statutory authority is formed for the conservation of the Thippagondanahalli reservoir and watershed. However, although the government did not implement any of the conservation recommendations, it ordered a reduction in the extent of the buffer zone.
2003 to 2014 period
Zone-1: Construction area increased from 2.24% to 4.69%. Barangay construction increased from 1.26 percent to 4.52 percent
Zone-3: Development Areas from 4.39% to 6.28%; Barangay construction increased from 0.89 percent to 6.60 percent.
Zone-4: Construction of barangays increased from 1.99 percent to 9.46 percent
Empri recommendation
- * Establishment of multi-disciplinary committee for conservation of river character
- * Removal of illegal, unauthorized obstructions
- * Ban on unauthorized quarrying, sand mining
- * Clearing encroachments on river and lake banks
- * Rejuvenation of lake network for river flow
- * Prevent industrial waste from flowing into the river
- * Adoption of technology regarding waste management and treatment
- * Control and management of ground water use
- * Comprehensive plan for rain water harvesting
- * Encouragement to grow greenery in the riverbed
Recognition of political, real estate lobbying: Yellappa Reddy
Without any political will to protect the river, maintain the river bed and provide clean water to the people, the buffer zone of Thippagondanahalli basin is being reduced by yielding to the political and real estate lobby. If the order of 2003 had been implemented, we would have seen an environment-friendly, clean water flow here in 20 years. However, the politicians are responsible for illegal and unauthorized constructions by passing the order and sitting idly by. These are the criminals who committed atrocities on Bhutai. Although the Supreme Court had earlier approved the construction of the township, the then Chief Minister J.H. Patel had taken action against it. In the cabinet meeting, he refused to consent to the construction of the township and said that he would face contempt of court. Environmental expert Yalappareddy opined that the Thippagondanahalli watershed has survived only because of his decision then.
Save buffer if intended to provide drinking water: Suresh Heblikar
25% of Bengaluru's area was supplied with drinking water from Thippagondanahalli Reservoir. But today the area where water flows there has been destroyed. A canal is not enough for the river to flow. The surrounding area is also very important for water to flow. That is called buffer zone. As much as we protect this zone, there should be plants and trees, grass and grass. They catch rainwater and cause water to drip. There should be animals and birds. This is ecological diversity. It is a tragedy that the buffer zone is going to be reduced to save the buildings without these. We are bringing drinking water from hundreds of kilometers after spending thousands of crores. It is regrettable that the water here is being polluted and used for industries. If the government wants to provide drinking water from Thippagondanahalli Reservoir to Bangalore tomorrow, the buffer zone should not be reduced. Buffer zone should be maintained as much as possible. It would be good if there was a larger buffer zone than in the 2003 order. Plants and trees should be cultivated and nurtured everywhere. Film actor and environmental activist Suresh Heblikar said that we will all help if needed.
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