The new Congress Government in Karnataka has decided to rejuvenate the dead river Arkavathy, once perennial water source to the city of Bangalore on the lines of the revival of river Thames in london. According to Karnataka Water Resource Minister MB Patil, the Government has decided to revive Arkavathy on the lines of revival of river Thames in london. He said the Government has already working on a plan to revive this river to provide water to Bangalore.
He said, “Help of experts involved in the revival of Thames will be taken if needed for the revival of Arkavathy River, which would add drinking water source for Bangalore city. Both Thames and Arkavathy have similar magnitude and the department is committed to implement this project.”
In fact the previous BJP Government had initiated a project to rejuvenate river Arkavathy to provide drinking water parched Bangalore. The BJP Government had started programmes for the revival of Arkavathy including cleansing its birth point, identifying flow area, and GIS mapping of the flow.
Patil made it clear that the Government will take a tough stance in clearing encroachments in Arkavathy catchment paving way for smooth flow of water. He said Managing Director of Karnataka Irrigation Department Kapil Mohan recently visited london to study the feasibility of rejuvenating Arkavathy River.
According to Minister, cleansing the channels, clearing industrial effluents and regenerating water bodies were some of the initiatives taken during revival of river Thames and it took 15 years to rejuvenate Thames. Patil said his department does not mind taking the assistance of national or international consultants for this project. “Experts in IITs will also be consulted before taking up this project. The department will explore all legal ways to remove bottlenecks and, if needed, some strong steps will also be initiated. The Central Government will be requested to finance this project. The DPR is likely to be ready soon and it will be implemented in consultation with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.”
“Untreated sewage water and effluents from industries have been diverted into the river. This will be checked and the river will be revived. This river will be one of the important sources of water in the coming years,” he said.
Arkavathy, which takes birth in Nandi Hills near the city, flows at least 86km crossing various places in the Bangalore rural and Ramanagam districts. Arkavathy, a tributary of river Cauvery, is a large mountain river and is used by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board to provide drinking water to Bangalore.