The Hindu             04.07.2013 

Big plans to clean toxic Vrishabhavati

Those living in the Vrishabhavati valley in Bidadi hobli
may expect some relief soon as the Ramanagaram district administration
has decided to clean the river with the assistance of a Mysore-based
agency.

The Vrishabhavati, a tributary of the
Arkavati, is polluted by effluents from industrial, agricultural and
domestic sources. A large number of people living in the vicinity of
Bhyramangala, Ittamadu, Chowkahalli, Shanamangala, Ramanahalli,
Sheshagirihalli and Gopahalli are facing health hazards because of the
polluted water. The polluted water has impacted agriculture too.

High Court notice

Recently,
the Karnataka High Court ordered issue notice to the State government,
Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and other authorities
when the issue of contaminated water being supplied to several areas in
Bangalore was highlighted in a newspaper.

Subsequently,
the Ramanagaram district administration decided to take up the project
to reduce pollution levels in the Vrishabhavati.

Project report

“Reducing
pollution levels or cleaning the river is a major task and requires a
lot of preparations. We have requested a private agency [Jalavahini
Management Services Pvt. Ltd.] in Mysore to submit a detailed report by
July 21,” V. Srirama Reddy, Deputy Commissioner of Ramanagaram, told
The Hindu
on Tuesday. Mr. Reddy said he visited several villages along the banks of the Vrishabhavati and interacted with affected people.

High
levels of toxic pollutants such as arsenic and zinc were found in
groundwater in the vicinity of the Bhyramangala tank (located along the
river’s course). “I have asked authorities of the Karnataka State
Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and departments of Health, Agriculture,
Horticulture and Animal Husbandry to submit reports on the impact of the
polluted water on people and cattle,” Mr. Reddy said.

Budget

The
Ramanagaram district administration will finalise the project after
receiving the report from the agency. “Later, we will fix a budget and
timeframe for cleaning the river,” he said.

As part
of the project, the district administration is planning to set up
treatment plants near the Bhyramangala tank. Jalavahini is providing
sustainable and cost-effective organic solution to waste management
issues in Mysore, an officer in the Ramanagaram Deputy Commissioner’s
office, said.