Buffer zone reduction of Thippagondanahalli Reservoir: Opposition to implementation of Notification 2019
Arkavati, Kumudvati river basin buffer zone cut: Opposition to implementation of notification 2019
Reduce in TG Halli Reservoir BUFFER ZONE: A license to pollute
Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್
Bengaluru: There has been outrage that pollution is being allowed by reducing the buffer zone of the Thippagondanahalli reservoir, which is built to supply drinking water.
The government has moved to implement the 2019 order reducing the buffer zone in the Thippagondanahalli reservoir and the Arkavati and Kumudvati rivers in the watershed. There has been a change in Zone – 3 and Zone – 4 of the order.
Environment activists have expressed outrage that by reducing the buffer zone to 500 meters, it will give permission to factories, barangays, schools and colleges that have already been built illegally on the banks of the river to discharge pollution officially.
There is about 64 km of river bed from Tumkur road Dabaspet to Sivaganga hill, towards north-west of Bangalore and to Nandi hill in north. Arkavati flows from Nandi hill, Kumudvati river flows from Sivaganga hill and reaches Thippagondanahalli reservoir. The problem of pollution in the Kumudvati river basin is not excessive. However, pollution is high in Arkavati flowing from Nandi Hill.
On November 18, 2003, the government issued an order to conserve the Thippagondanahalli reservoir and watershed. Divided into four zones, a buffer zone was allocated. This order was withdrawn on July 24, 2014. On July 20, 2019, an order was issued rescheduling the buffer zone.
A lot of illegal buildings, factories, schools-colleges have already been constructed in the area of Arkavari river, especially in the area from Hesaraghatta to Thippagondanahalli reservoir. These have already caused pollution and chemicals from factories are flowing into Thippagondanahalli Reservoir along with sewage water.
The State Pollution Control Board issued notices to all these illegal builders in the buffer zone four years ago, but no action has been taken so far. Environmental activist Nirmala is of the opinion that waste treatment, rain water harvesting and water recycling system are left only in order.
Environmental activists allege that reducing the buffer zone of the river, which has the problem of pollution and pressure, is just a ploy to authorize the buildings of political figures, and has no intention of preventing pollution.
What has changed?:
In the 2003 order, it was indicated that no person can carry out any activities except agriculture in the area up to 1 km from the bank of Arkavati river (Hesaraghatta lake to Thippagondanahalli reservoir) and Kumudvati river bank in Zone-3. This distance has been reduced to 500 meters in the 2019 order.
In Zone-4, a buffer zone of 1 km to 2 km was fixed for industries classified as green industries by the State Pollution Control Board in the same area. It was suggested to grant permission to new buildings of one storey subject to installation of rain water harvesting system. However, as per the 2019 order, the buffer zone has been reduced from 500 meters to 1 km. It has been stipulated that industries should include rain water harvesting, waste water treatment system, residential buildings should not discharge waste, rain water should be collected and water should be reused. Further, educational, medical institutions, hospitals, government hostels, all these facilities should be newly added in the 2019 order.
Thippagondanahalli basin
1453 sq km: Overall catchment area
- 461.80 sq km: Doddaballapur taluk
- 396.91 sq km: Nelamangala Taluk
- 355.41 sq km: Bangalore North
- 132.32 sq km: Magadi Taluk
- 58.35 sq km: Devanahalli Taluk
- 40.26 sq km: Bangalore Dakshina Taluk
- 8 sq. km: Chikkaballapur taluk
* 1931–33: Construction of Thippagondanahalli Reservoir
*1933: 27 MLD (million liters per day) water supply from April
* 1954–58: Increased storage capacity and 54 MLD water supply
* 1974: 135 MLD water supplied to the city
* 1998: Waste started flowing from industrial areas and urban areas in Peenya, Dasarahalli.
* 1998: Red worms are found for the first time as the water in the reservoir becomes polluted.
* 2001: report by Central Environmental Pollution Control Board on pollution of Arkavati river water from factories
* 2003: On the advice of ISRO and experts, the government ordered for the protection of the Thippagondanahalli watershed. In later days too, there were massive activities of unauthorized settlement and construction of industries near Makali, where the Arkavati river bridge is located.
* 2007-08: pollution levels were higher in inflows than in water. The river channel was rehabilitated at a cost of ₹22 crore.
* 2012: water supply to the city was suspended from December after the water quality in the reservoir proved to be poor.
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